FAQ's: Frequently Asked Questions Is studying in Hawai'i really studying abroad? What are the criteria for participating in this program? How do I apply for the program? When will I find out if I have been accepted in the program? If my GPA is lower than the required level for acceptance, can I still be considered for admission? Can pieces of my application arrive separately or should it be sent all together? Can I use my financial aid for an SAH program? Are there any scholarships available? What's included in the program? Why isn't airfare included in the program? What is the accommodation like? Will I be picked up when I arrive in Hawaii? Do I have to enroll full time? How will my courses and grades transfer back to my home institution? I don't currently attend a college or university- can I still go on the program? Can I participate in the program right out of high school? How do I register for classes at HPU? If I participate in a full-year program, do I have to pay the fee all at once? What should I do about insurance while studying in Hawaii?   Is studying in Hawai'i really studying abroad? The idea behind study abroad is to get out of your comfort zone for a period, to see new sights, meet new people, learn about another culture, and, of course, earn credit while doing it. As such, the Study Abroad Hawaii Program offers all of this – the only difference is that you don’t need a passport to participate. Here are some things to consider about studying abroad in Hawaii: As the most diverse State in the U.S., Hawaii is a living laboratory for racial harmony. 80% of the population is non-white and represents various races including Pacific Islander (Hawaiian, Samoan, Tongan, Marshall Islands), Asian (Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Filipino), African American and Hispanic. Hawaii is a geological and environmental wonder where you can experience landscapes ranging from lush, tropical rainforests, to barren lava fields left by the many volcanoes still present in Hawaii, to the only barrier reef found in the U.S. The institution at which you will study, Hawaii Pacific University, is as acclaimed for its academic merit as it is for its international flavor. Students from over 100 countries make up nearly 25% of the student population making it one of the most international universities in the world.   TOP OF PAGE   What are the criteria for participating in this program? The criteria for applying to a program depend upon your academic background. Click here for more information and to download an application.   TOP OF PAGE   How do I apply for the program? To apply for the program, you will need to send SAH the following: Study Abroad Hawaii Application and Course Selection Worksheet Official transcript from your most recent university or college Personal statement attesting to why we should consider you for the program (500-800 words typed) An application fee of $40.00 (made payable to Study Abroad Hawaii). You can download the Study Abroad Application Packet here.   TOP OF PAGE   When will I find out if I have been accepted into the program?  You will find out whether or not you have been accepted within 2 weeks of Study Abroad Hawaii having received your complete application packet.   TOP OF PAGE   If my GPA is lower than the required level for acceptance, can I still be considered for admission? If for some reason you do not meet the eligibility criteria, but feel strongly that we should consider your application, please submit it with a cover letter explaining why we should consider your case.   TOP OF PAGE   Can pieces of my application arrive separately or should it be sent all together? Pieces of your application can arrive separately and we will add these pieces to your file as they come into the office. Once all of your application materials have arrived, they will be reviewed and an admission decision will be made.   TOP OF PAGE   Can I use my financial aid for an SAH program? Under federal law, all federal financial aid that you qualify for (loans and grants) can be used to study abroad if the program you are attending has been approved for credit by your home institution. Beyond this, it is up to your home institution to decide whether or not you can utilize state and/or institutional aid to study abroad. In nearly all cases your home university will require a "consortia agreement" to be signed between them and SAH to process your financial aid for study abroad. In such instances, SAH can arrange such an agreement that meets the needs of your home institution. Click here to find out more about financing your study abroad experience.   TOP OF PAGE   Are there any scholarships available? Study Abroad Hawaii is committed to helping students study abroad, and, as such, we have developed a scholarship program to assist students in funding their experiences. Through our program, scholarship awards varying from $200.00 to $500.00 per semester are available to academically qualified students who are participating in any CIS semester, year or summer abroad program. To be eligible for this scholarship, the applicant must possess a cumulative 3.0 GPA at the college or university level. If you are applying directly from high school, you must have a 3.5 cumulative GPA. Click here to find out more about financing your study abroad experience.   TOP OF PAGE   What’s included in the program? The Study Abroad Hawaii program includes all of the following: Tuition for 12-18 credits per semester and 3-6 credits per summer term (nursing and natural sciences is more) Student fees Shared housing in an apartment Academic advising Financial aid counseling and assistance Predeparture information and handbook Travel assistance and advice Airport Meeting Service Island Orientation – Circle Island Tour and Welcome Luau Official transcripts from Hawaii Pacific University On-site Director Official transcripts from Hawaii Pacific University   TOP OF PAGE   Why isn’t airfare included in the program? We have found from past experience that no matter how good of a deal that we can get for students, there always seems to be something less expensive. Though airfare is not included in the program fee, we can recommend several organizations that offer consistently lower ticket prices.   TOP OF PAGE   What is the accommodation like? Housing is included in the program fee. Study Abroad Hawaii participants all live in carefully selected apartments located either in Honolulu or in Waikiki. The type of housing ranges from studio apartments to one- and two-bedroom units. All are furnished and equipped with the “basics” – refrigerator, stove, microwave, etc. The program fee (below) is based upon shared room accommodation. If you would like a private room, we can try and assist you with this request, but, due to the shortage of quality housing on Oahu, we cannot guarantee this. If we are able to find a single room, please note that there will be an additional charge that can vary from $1,000.00 - $2,000.00 per semester.   TOP OF PAGE   Will I be picked up when I arrive in Hawaii? Yes, included in your program fee is an airport meeting service. When you arrive in Hawaii you will be met at the airport by a representative of SAH and taken to your accommodation.   TOP OF PAGE   Do I have to enroll full time? For the summer term, you only need to take 3 credits. For the semester term, the program fee covers tuition for 12-18 credits. If you are interested in taking less than a full time load, it is possible, but you need to consider that you may lose any financial aid funding that you receive if you take less than a full time load.   TOP OF PAGE   How will my courses and grades transfer back to my home institution? To make sure that the credit you receive for your studies at HPU will transfer to your home institution, you will need to complete the "Course Selection Worksheet" in the application packet and return it with the rest of the application forms. In order to transfer credit back to your home institution, the courses you take in Hawaii must meet the same requirements as a similar course offered at your home school. To determine this transferability, your study abroad advisor (or academic advisor) will want to see descriptions of the courses you intend to take (click here to find the subjects offered at HPU as well as course descriptions). If you do not want transfer credit for your experience (keep in mind that you will still receive an official transcript), you need only to select the subjects you wish to take and do not need to worry about the subject equivalents nor obtaining any signatures.   TOP OF PAGE   I don’t currently attend a college or university – can I still go on the program? If you are not currently enrolled in a college or university, but have previous university-level credit, you are required to possess a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or better in your post high school career to be eligible for admission to the Study Abroad Hawaii Program.   TOP OF PAGE   Can I participate in the program right out of high school? If you do not have previous college or university experience, but have graduated from high school, then you are eligible to apply if you possess a 2.75 GPA and either an SAT of 1000 or an ACT of 21.   TOP OF PAGE   How do I register for classes at HPU? As part of the application process, you will select a number of subjects that you want to take. We will forward these on to HPU for approval and they will “hold” these subjects for you until you arrive and register in person.   If I participate in a full-year program, do I have to pay the fee all at once? No, you will be invoiced each semester separately.   What should I do about insurance while studying in Hawaii? You should check to see if your current insurance policy will cover you while you are in Hawaii and see how comprehensive this coverage will be. In most cases, if it is a reputable insurance company, their coverage will extend while you are out-of-state.   TOP OF PAGE   Study Abroad Hawai'i, 25 New South Street, #102, Northampton, MA 01060 Phone: (413) 584-7639 Contact Study Abroad Hawai'i