True Life: I am an Education Abroad Advisor

If you are interested in an education abroad (EA) advisor position, odds are you have heard that each day brings different challenges and that ours roles require us to wear many hats. I love this aspect of my job, but when my mentors told me these things prior to my job search, I didn’t quite understand how each day could be so varied – you’re an advisor, so you advise students every day, right? However, having now been in my first position for three years, I finally appreciate the unpredictability of day-to-day work of an EA advisor and thought I’d offer a peek inside a typical week for those who want to know what it’s really like behind the scenes.

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MONDAY

Morning

· Respond to emails that came in over the weekend (or that I didn’t get to on Friday).

·Check Microsoft Outlook calendar to get an idea of the week ahead. Make To-Do List, separating out priorities from routine tasks.

·Meet with co-coordinator to finalize Marketing Your Study Abroad workshop and handouts.

Afternoon

·Meet with office intern in charge of activities and agenda for evening event of the Global Tigers, our SGA organization for study abroad alumni. Estimate attendance and order catering.

·Respond to emails.

·Prepare for and conduct weekly intern meeting: miscellaneous office notes, individual project updates, Battle of the Interns challenge, ePortfolio assignments.

Evening

·Oversee Global Tigers event.

TUESDAY

Morning

· Respond to emails.

· Weekly staff meeting with director. Assigned priority statistics project for provost, so shift tasks to accommodate new deadline.

Afternoon

· Meet with co-coordinator to discuss updates to general study abroad presentation and handout. Assign tasks for each to complete before first Study Abroad 101 session on Thursday afternoon.

· Co-present Marketing Your Study Abroad Experience workshop.

· Respond to emails.

WEDNESDAY

Morning

· Respond to emails.

· Meet with office intern regarding questions on ePortfolio assignment.

· Appointment with outgoing student regarding application next steps.

· Study Abroad Fair preparation: Request quotes for Study Abroad Fair print marketing from three university-approved vendors per new policy, submit Campus Event Request form for approval, order tables and chairs, receive and document registration forms and payments for campus and non-campus vendors.

· Field walk-in inquiries from incoming exchange students regarding billing, health insurance, course registration, dining fee, access to campus resources.

Lunch

· Working lunch with ePortfolio Project cohort members regarding planning for the semester.

Afternoon

· Appointment with outgoing student regarding assistance with program selection.

· Respond to emails.

· Conference call with Lessons From Abroad (LFA) Georgia Conference Committee to confirm final marketing push, registration details, schedule of sessions.

· Update Meet the Staff board with new interns.

· Monthly Advisors Caucus meeting (academic advisors, career counselors, study abroad coordinators, Registrar’s Office, learning communities coordinator, etc.).

·  Respond to emails.

THURSDAY

Morning

· Respond to emails.

·  As LFA Georgia School Liaison for Alabama, send final reminder to contacts at Alabama institutions regarding marketing and registration.

· Attend sub-committee meeting of Green Dot Bystander Intervention team to plan for campus-wide launch event in October.

· Prepare for Outgoing/Incoming Exchange Workshop for faculty advisors, department administrators, and academic advisors.

Afternoon

· Two appointments with outgoing student.

· Respond to emails.

· Co-facilitate Outgoing/Incoming Exchange Workshop.

· Field walk-in incoming exchange student inquiry.

FRIDAY

Morning

· Respond to emails.

· Appointment with outgoing student.

· Answer questions from office business manager regarding purchases for Study Abroad Fair.

· Project for director: Update materials on office website for faculty, department administrators, academic advisors, etc. regarding incoming exchange procedures.

Afternoon

· Continue work on exchange website materials. Send draft to director for approval.

· Respond to emails.

· Fight the mad rush to leave for the weekend.

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As you can see, EA advisors do much more than simply advise students. No two days are ever the same. Sometimes, my job requires that I re-prioritize and regroup to keep up. But it is the variety that makes the job so energizing. 

So, I'd love to hear from you. Was there anything in my week that surprised you?

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR: 
Abbie Naglosky is a Study Abroad Coordinator at Auburn University and featured blogger for Study Abroad Careers. You can read her Real Careers interview here or see more of her work by visiting her online portfolio.

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