Make copies of your passport, get your shots up to date, and pack lightly. Those are essential checklist chores, but study abroad preparation involves more than running errands. Put these internal items on your to-do list, and you'll truly be ready for takeoff.

1. Make time for self-evaluation.
Before embracing a new culture, it's helpful to understand your own. What are your beliefs and values, and how were they shaped? Which points are open for discussion, and which are firmly entrenched? What kinds of cultural differences will you be able to accept, or at least tolerate? Thinking along these lines before you leave can help prepare your mind for the changes ahead.

2. Learn the lay of the land.
The more you know about the culture of the host country, the better prepared you'll be for your study abroad experience. If you're going to Spain, for instance, you'll want to know that Juan Carlos I has been king since 1975, and Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero has been prime minister since 2004. It might also be helpful to know that, while Roman Catholicism is the predominant religion, most Spaniards do not go to church.

3. Look at yourself in their mirror.
It can be disheartening to arrive in a new place and discover that your home country is despised by the locals. This pill can be swallowed more easily before you're at the mercy of jet lag and culture shock. If the local opinion of Americans is low, try to uncover the reasons why. Make an effort to understand the other perspective before crusading for your cause.

4. Set practical goals and objectives.
What are you hoping to gain from your study abroad experience? Do you have language acquisition or other academic goals? Are there certain places you absolutely must visit while you're there? If you're hoping to leverage your time abroad for job interviews or grad school applications, be on the lookout for noteworthy experiences that can translate into study abroad success stories.

5. Prepare to adjust.
Traveling overseas and living in a new country can be taxing for even the most enlightened individual. If you're aware of that going in, you may not be so shocked by culture shock. The adjustment cycle often begins with a honeymoon period of excitement, followed by a time of homesickness or frustration. After that, you'll likely experience a newfound respect for your host country and a strong sense of accomplishment for yourself.

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