No, if you are adding on an ELAP experience before, after or during your ISA study abroad program, you only need to fill out one ISA application. However, you will need to send in a $200 deposit for your ISA program as well as your ELAP program. Please fill out the Program Information section of the application accordingly, providing the information of both programs.

Application materials may arrive separately (and in any order) and do not have to be sent in together. However, your application will not be evaluated until all materials have been received.

The credit verification section does need to be signed by your university. ISA includes this portion in the application process to encourage participants to begin working with their U.S. university's study abroad office and familiarizing themselves with their specific requirements and policies. If you have already graduated please make a note saying that you do not wish to earn academic credit and sign in the specified area.

Applicants are evaluated on a case by case basis. It is imperative that all applicants excel in the Spanish language interview, demonstrate the desired skills and abilities for an ELAP participant in the application materials, and express a certain level of maturity. Young applicants should either be enrolled in high school at the time of application or have already been accepted into a university/college.

Yes, you can definitely still participate in ELAP if you've graduated. Most of our ELAP participants are college-aged, but if you meet our eligibility requirements we encourage you to apply to our program. It can be a great résumé builder for those directly after college, before entering the job market.

You will be contacted by an ELAP coordinator to discuss your options. These options may include but are not limited to the following recommendations: You enroll in an intensive month of Spanish language before participating in ELAP, or you choose a different site that may have placement options for intermediate Spanish students. Should there be no other feasible options, your $200 deposit would be fully refundable.

We recommend 4 semesters or 6 quarter units of Spanish for 6 to 8 week ELAP programs, and 3 semesters or 5 quarter units of Spanish for 10, 12 or 16-week ELAP programs. If you do not meet these recommended requirements, please contact an ELAP coordinator at elap@studiesabroad.com to discuss your options. Please note that Spanish language skills are vital to the success of your program, and you may need to advance your Spanish before participating and/or applying to an ELAP program.

Yes, in every placement your Spanish will continue to improve. Often when teaching English speaking Spanish is necessary to get a point across or for classroom management

Upon acceptance to ELAP your placement has been confirmed, but your schedule will not be determined until you are in-country. However, we will be able to let you know approximately how many hours per week that you will be volunteering, given your placement.

It depends on the policies of your university. Many of our past participants have successfully received "Independent Study", "Internship", "Directed Studies", or "Special Topics" credit for their volunteer experience. In order to receive credit you must find an Academic Advisor and/or Study Abroad Advisor to sponsor your international and service-learning experience with ELAP.

In the past, students have completed journals, written essays, and completed a required number of hours to receive credit. You might also propose creating a video blog about your experience if it meets your university's credit requirements.

It is important to contact your academic advisor or study abroad advisor directly to discuss your university's policies for receiving academic credit for an ELAP program.

Most ISA students are able to successfully participate in ELAP during their academic semester. On average, volunteers work about 5 - 10 hours per week in addition to their classes. For those students seeking academic credit, the number of hours per week may be more, depending on specific internship requirements. In the event that your class schedule conflicts with your ELAP schedule and we are unable to find a new placement that will not conflict with your academics, your ELAP program cost will be fully refundable.

• The local organizations and projects with which you volunteer overseas have limited resources. If they did have the financial resources to pay an international volunteer, it would almost certainly be more beneficial and cost-effective to hire a local person instead, someone who already knows the language and culture and is likely to stick around.
• Identifying appropriate host organizations overseas and working with them is time-consuming, takes resources, and requires an experienced and professional staff.
• The program price goes towards the process of preparing, training, housing, feeding, and supervising your experience.
• The costs of recruiting volunteers, producing literature, answering the phones, sending mailings, developing a website, and interviewing potential volunteers are significant.
• Some organizations have limited volunteer positions available. Paying the program fee ensures the level of commitment of the volunteer and guarantees their position for when they arrive in country.
• Many programs invest a portion of the volunteer's tuition into resources to support the experience. ELAP, for example, makes a donation to the organization at the end of the project.
• Also, if you are participating in ELAP as a stand-alone program, your program cost includes your room and board, medical insurance, airport reception and transfers, Spanish tutoring, and on-site cultural activities.

*Excerpt taken from How to Live Your Dream of Volunteering Overseas by Joseph Collins, Stefano DeZerega and Zahara Heckscher published by Penguin Putnam, Inc., 2002.

ELAP participants must commit to the greater of two weeks or 20 hours of their internship or volunteer position. If unhappy, they may be re-placed one time. Only one re-placement is permitted.

For ELAP students, we strongly recommend staying with a host family. However, residencias and apartments are available at some sites. Residencias are available in Argentina, Peru, and Chile (called a pensión) though they cannot be guaranteed. Please contact your ELAP Coordinator before the Final Forms and Payment due date if you would like to stay in one of the alternative housing options or if you will be making your own housing arrangements.

Your flight form and itinerary are due 4 weeks prior to the start date of your program. If we receive the information any later than that, we may not be able to arrange for you to be picked up at the airport and/or your flight information may not appear on the flight list in your final packet

No. ISA does not arrange group flights for any ELAP programs. For more information please refer to the helpful resources section/airline resources of the website, the Online Orientation, or your site specific handbook for tips to help you purchase your airline ticket. However, it is very important that you wait until you have received your acceptance packet and confirmed your ELAP dates, before buying your flight. There are certain time frames in which you must arrive in order for an ISA representative to pick you up at the airport.

Airport transfer is included for all participants arriving on their specified arrival date with the exception of Valparaiso and Viña del Mar, Chile (see below for more info about this date). Those participants arriving on a day other than the specified arrival day will need to find their own transportation from the airport, or contact an ELAP coordinator in the ISA office to arrange an airport pick-up for an extra fee.

The first day of the program, which is listed on the website, should be your departure date. For some programs, due to the time difference, you will arrive on the following day. The departure and subsequent arrival date may be within the same day (i.e. Mexico), or the next day (i.e. Argentina and Chile). Please wait until you have been accepted into the program and received your acceptance packet with detailed flight information to purchase your flight.

This is decided on a case-to-case basis. If you would like to arrive late or early please contact an ELAP coordinator as soon as possible.

You should make arrangements to return to the U.S. on the last day of the program, unless you want to extend your stay in your host country for personal travel. All ELAP activities will finish on the day prior to the last day of your program. If you stay in the host country longer to travel on your own, you may extend your medical insurance coverage for $25 per week. Please contact an ELAP coordinator before your final forms and payment due date to discuss this option.

ISA will provide return transportation to the designated airport only on the program end date within the time frame indicated on the flight information document. If you stay in your host country longer, to travel on your own, transportation to the airport will be your responsibility.

Possibly, but you will need to contact an ELAP coordinator to discuss this matter. If you are enrolled in a standard ISA program you will need to talk with the site specialist for your destination as well.

Yes, all ISA and ELAP program countries require that you have a passport. If you are not a U.S. citizen, please check with your local consulate for advice regarding traveling/studying in another country.

You can find passport applications and detailed information on how to apply on the webpage of the U.S. State Department: http://travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html. Generally, post offices and sometimes courthouses serve as passport application sites.

Yes, just leave that section of the application blank, and send us a copy of your passport when you do receive it.

Yes, credit cards may be used for any portion of the program price (only Visa, MasterCard, Discover). Please note that there is an administrative fee of 3% for credit card charges, which will be applied to the total amount charged. Program fees can also be paid by personal check, cashier's check, or money order as well. American Express is not accepted.

Yes, if the complete ELAP application is not received at least 2 months than the applicant may be subject to a late fee of $150. Additionally a later fee may be incurred if the program is not paid in full by the final forms and payment due date.