Meet with an Advisor
Schedule an Advising Appointment Heading link
The Study Abroad Office offers a variety of advising appointments to help you navigate the study abroad process. Once you have attended a First Step info session, you can meet with a member of our team to receive personalized help in selecting a program that fits your academic, professional, and personal goals.
Connect with one of our advisors to learn more about your options for studying, interning, and participating in research abroad! Our advising is offered virtually and in-person.
Please note, all advising appointments are optional and not required as part of the application process. If you do wish to meet with an advisor, you may schedule an appointment below.
Study Abroad Advising Heading link
Learn more about the types of advising appointments we offer!
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Drop-In Advising
Drop-In Hours are intended for students who are planning on going abroad at any point during their academic career. If you have no idea where to start, please stop by our office during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
Please note: Study Abroad Advisors may have scheduled appointments and may not be available immediately. In this instance, you may meet with a Peer Advisor if one is present in the office.
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Peer Advising Appointments
If you’d like to hear first hand perspectives of students who previously went on Study Abroad programs, we highly recommend that you meet with our Peer Advisors. Not only have they completed programs, they also work in our office and can help navigate you from application process to program selection. Some of our Peer Advisors offer additional identity-based advising for students who have questions or concerns about traveling with a specific identity.
The Peer Advisors are a great starting point and are recommended to meet with before meeting a Program Advisor.
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Program Advisor Appointment
If you are interested in studying abroad, but need some assistance in determining which program is the best fit for you, please schedule an appointment with one of our Program Advisors. These are intended for students who have narrowed down their search to a specific country or region of the world (see country portfolios for our advisor team below). Depending on your interests you may meet with multiple advisors in our office as each advisor has a particular area of expertise. During your appointment you will discuss scholarship options, create a budget, discuss visa/immigration requirements, and review the course approval process.
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Scholarship & Funding Advising
If you need assistance with your study abroad scholarship application for scholarships such as the Gilman International Scholarship, Gilman-McCain Scholarship, Freeman Asia, Fund for Education Abroad Scholarships, and any others, please schedule an appointment with Kyle to review your essay or brainstorm content ideas. If you would like a draft of your essay reviewed, please email it to sao@uic.edu 48 hours before the time of your appointment.
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The Study Abroad Office team has a wide range of international experience and works in collaboration with UIC Career Services and other external partners to advise students on future global opportunities and incorporating their study abroad experience into their job materials, interview preparation, and more. Schedule an appointment with anyone on our team (or email them directly) to discuss how you want to apply study abroad to your future.
Meet with our Peer Advisors Heading link
Want to study abroad but don’t know where to start? A good first step is speaking to a Peer Advisor. Learn from UIC students who have successfully studied abroad about how their experience was, which program might be right for you, what to do next and where to get more information.

Jordan Sweet, Peer Advisor Heading link
Jordan Sweet joined the UIC Study Abroad Office in 2021. He is a Marketing major, and studied abroad in Milan, Italy during the Fall of 2022 on the IES Abroad Milan – Fashion Design & Merchandising program. Jordan has a keen eye for design and is involved in many marketing outreach efforts that pertain to social media design and content.
Meet Jordan during his office hours below or schedule an appointment:
Wednesday: 9:15am – 12:15pm; 3:15pm – 3:45pm
Friday: 9:15am – 12:45pm
New to iAdvise? Log in to get to my schedule at my.UIC.edu and visit the Advising Tab. Click on iAdvise and you will go to your Success Network. Search for “Study Abroad” in the search bar to make your appointment!
Have you used iAdvise before? Use the link below to go directly to my schedule.

Alicia Ribeiro, Peer Advisor Heading link
Alicia joined the UIC Study Abroad office in October 2022. They are currently a sophomore at UIC, pursuing a degree in English with a focus in Creative Writing. Alicia studied abroad in Mexico as part of the faculty-led program, Social Justice, Language and Culture in Oaxaca. While abroad, Alicia took a grammar class in Spanish to strengthen their language skills, went on a variety of field trips to learn about Oaxacan culture, built relationships with their host family, and pursued an independent study in video production. Alicia contributed b-roll footage, assisted with filming interviews, and is currently involved with the editing process of a promotional video for the Oaxaca study abroad program. These experiences helped enhance Alicia’s abilities as a UIC Peer Advisor for the Study Abroad office.
Alicia serves as a first point of contact to students and can help guide students in choosing a program, completing the application process, finding financial aid, and getting connected to other experts that can assist them. In addition, they help with administrative work, updating the website, archiving study abroad photos, and outreach events.
Identity-based advising: Alicia is also available to advise for those who identify with the LGBTQIA+ community and is happy to answer all questions regarding traveling with this identity.
Meet Alicia during her office hours below or schedule an appointment:
Monday: 10:15am – 12:15pm
Tuesday: 1:45pm – 4:15pm
Wednesday: 3:15pmpm – 4:15pm
Friday: 10:15am – 12:15pm
New to iAdvise? Log in to get to my schedule at my.UIC.edu and visit the Advising Tab. Click on iAdvise and you will go to your Success Network. Search for “Study Abroad” in the search bar to make your appointment!
Have you used iAdvise before? Use the link below to go directly to my schedule.

Emily Spalding, Peer Advisor Heading link
Emily Joined the Study Abroad Office as a Peer Advisor in October of 2022. She is currently a junior with a double major in History and Classical studies, and a minor in Religious studies. Emily participated in UIC’s Italian Language, Culture and the Arts in Rome, Salerno and Siena program. This program is a faculty-directed program that focuses on the Italian language and culture. This experience has enhanced Emily’s ability to advise fellow students as they navigate their study abroad experience.
Emily assists with outreach initiatives by creating social media content as well as participating in panels and representing the Study Abroad Office at campus events.
Meet Emily during her office hours below or schedule an appointment:
Monday: 3:15pm – 4:15pm
Wednesday: 1:15pm – 4:15pm
Friday: 8:45am – 10:15am; 12:15pm – 4:15pn
New to iAdvise? Log in to get to my schedule at my.UIC.edu and visit the Advising Tab. Click on iAdvise and you will go to your Success Network. Search for “Study Abroad” in the search bar to make your appointment!
Have you used iAdvise before? Use the link below to go directly to my schedule.

Aaron Stanaway, Peer Advisor Heading link
Friday: 9am – 4pm
New to iAdvise? Log in to get to my schedule at my.UIC.edu and visit the Advising Tab. Click on iAdvise and you will go to your Success Network. Search for “Study Abroad” in the search bar to make your appointment!
Have you used iAdvise before? Use the link below to go directly to my schedule.
Meet with our Program Advisors Heading link
Already have your program or country in mind and want to discuss the specifics? Our Program Advisors will be able to guide you.

General Study Abroad Advising, Spain, Portugal, and Czech Republic Heading link
Kenny Parris serves as the main point of contact for General Advising, in which he’ll provide guidance on getting started with studying abroad, program types, and ultimately directing students to the appropriate Program Advisor for their selected program.
Additionally, he advises for all programs in the following locations: Czech Republic, Portugal, & Spain.
New to iAdvise? Log in to get to my schedule at my.UIC.edu and visit the Advising Tab. Click on iAdvise and you will go to your Success Network. Search for “Study Abroad” in the search bar to make your appointment!
Have you used iAdvise before? Use the link below to go directly to my schedule.

Asia & Africa (Interim advisor for other destinations: see below) Heading link
Irina Krymova advises for faculty-directed programs and all programs in the following locations: Botswana, China, Denmark, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Korea, Madagascar, Mongolia, Morocco, Nepal, Russia, Senegal, South Africa, Sweden, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Tibet, & Vietnam
Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Turks & Caicos.
New to iAdvise? Log in to get to my schedule at my.UIC.edu and visit the Advising Tab. Click on iAdvise and you will go to your Success Network. Search for “Study Abroad” in the search bar to make your appointment!
Have you used iAdvise before? Use the link below to go directly to my schedule.

Oceania & Europe Heading link
Anthony Terenzio advises for all programs in the following locations: Australia, Austria, Bulgaria, Canada, France, Greece, Germany, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, Poland, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
New to iAdvise? Log in to get to my schedule at my.UIC.edu and visit the Advising Tab. Click on iAdvise and you will go to your Success Network. Search for “Study Abroad” in the search bar to make your appointment!
Have you used iAdvise before? Use the link below to go directly to my schedule.

General Advising with the Executive Director Heading link
Dr. Kyle Rausch is the Executive Director of the Study Abroad Office and is enthusiastic about connecting with students. Schedule an appointment with Kyle if you need assistance with an important health & safety concern, scholarship applications, navigating your identity abroad, or virtual study abroad. For program selection advising, please make an appointment with one of the designated advisors above.
New to iAdvise? Log in to get to my schedule at my.UIC.edu and visit the Advising Tab. Click on iAdvise and you will go to your Success Network. Search for “Study Abroad” in the search bar to make your appointment!
Have you used iAdvise before? Use the link below to go directly to my schedule.
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If you are still unsure which advisor to meet with, please contact sao@uic.edu and we will match you with the right advisor for you!