How do I apply & pay?

< updated for summer 2020 >

If you’re interested in joining us next summer, here’s how you can start the process…

ASAP                 Eligible? Hardy?

  • Be enrolled full-time at Baylor University
  • Complete at least 30 credit hours by departure date
  • Have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher
  • Decide if you’re ready for a multi-day hike in the Andes… physically, mentally, emotionally

ASAP                 Email

Glad you passed the first test! Send me a quick email to let me know you’re thinking about joining us.

TBA      Information Meeting

Come to an information meeting!

  • October 1, 2019 (Tue) at 9:00 pm in Moody Library, room G42
  • November 4, 2019 (Mon) at 6:00 pm in Draper, room 152
  • February 4, 2020 (Tue) at 8:00 pm in Jones Library, room 105

December 1      Priority Application due

The best way to signal your interest in joining the group is to complete an application on BearsAbroad. The application doesn’t commit you to anything, but it’s the official way to register your interest. Since we can only take a small number of students, getting on the BearsAbroad list early will help your chances in the final selection.

The application has a few questions about you, then it asks you to provide a couple things:

    • Passport… A passport is needed right away because the reservation for our hike to Machu Picchu requires a valid passport very quickly. Take a picture with your phone or use a scanner to get a digital image of the main pages of your passport ( the signature page and the picture page). Don’t cut off the edges. It’s OK for your thumb to be in the picture. This is what I’m looking for…
    • Degree Audit… I need a copy of your current degree audit. You can create this in BearWeb > Student Academic Services > Student Records > Degree Audit. Select the “List All Requirements” option. If you are a first semester freshman, you will need to send a second degree audit in January.
    • Letters of Recommendation. Two letters of recommendation are needed to gain insight into your maturity and good judgement. It can be tricky choosing recommenders, so here are some suggestions:
      • your residence hall director (RHD), community leader (CL), chaplain, or faculty-in-residence – especially good for freshmen and sophomores
      • your current college pastor or church pastor. Also, youth pastor from home, or other minister with whom you have a connection
      • a student who was part of Baylor in Peru in a previous year
      • your work supervisor – especially good for students who have a campus job, but off-campus jobs are also good
      • a Baylor professor or staff member
      • an adult with whom you’ve served – for example, your supervisor when you volunteered at an animal shelter

Review:  I will review applications and contact students on a rolling basis beginning in December and continuing until the program is full. Once you’ve been notified of acceptance, the nonrefundable deposit is due right away. The team will be finalized no later than the Acceptance Date (see below).

I promise to make acceptance decisions quickly and notify everyone not accepted as soon as possible in order to allow those students time to apply to other programs.

Acceptance Criteria:  The following criteria will guide the selection process…

      • Compatibility: Is the student interested in taking the classes planned for Baylor in Peru? Is the student interested in joining the excursions? Is the student arriving and departing on the planned schedule?
      • Coordination: Is the student interested in courses that will coordinate well with other potential students? Is the student requesting a course option that needs more students?
      • Completeness: Did the student complete all parts of the application and pay the deposit early? Did the student send a picture of his or her passport? How many credit hours has the student completed? What is the student’s GPA?
      • Confidence: Based on recommendations, interviews, and other information, has the student convinced the director that he or she will take class seriously, be a positive team member, and generally follow program expectations?
      • Connection: Has the student taken the faculty for other classes? Has the student participated in other activities with the faculty? Is the student a linguistics, professional writing, or English major?

Payments…

Deposit           $1,000 when notified of acceptance (between Dec 1 and Feb 10)
Remainder    $1,600 around May 15 (same time as summer financial settlement)

Nonrefundable Deposit

The CGE office does not allow refunds or transfers on deposits. Please consider your plans carefully and be willing to commit to attending the program when you make your deposit.

e-bill Payments

All payments are made using the same e-bill system that you use for regular tuition payments. For the deposit, you will log into the e-bill system, navigate to the “Deposits” tab, and select the “Study Abroad Deposit” payment.

Tuition payments for the summer are determined by Baylor University and must be paid in full in order to participate in the program.

February 1     Application Deadline

The application process may continue until February 1st. However, start and complete your application as early as possible. It is possible the group will be formed and applications will be closed before this date.

February 10     Final Acceptance Date

While I will attempt to communicate with everyone and make decisions long before this date, I promise to let all applicants know no later than this date whether or not they have been accepted into the program. Students who have incomplete applications, unpaid deposits, or missing/expired passports by this date will no longer be considered.

February – TBA     Welcome Meeting

We’ll have at least one mandatory orientation meeting in the spring to answer questions and discuss final plans. Expect the meeting to be 8:00-10:00 pm toward the end of the month. I will email the final time and location closer to the event.

April 5                    Register for Classes

  • Around this date, you will register for your summer classes.

April 24                   Summer e-bill Available

May 15                     Summer e-bill Due

  • The remainder of your program fee as well as your tuition and fees for summer classes are due around this date.