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¶¶Òõ̽̽ GO is not a study abroad program and is not connected to any academic coursework. It’s a pre-orientation option, like TREK or First Scholars. Our goal is to give students an opportunity to build community with other incoming first-year students and faculty before starting in the fall semester. ¶¶Òõ̽̽ GO programs are short-term global learning experiences in a variety of locations in the U.S. (including Burlington!) and around the world. We offer travel options for interested students through ¶¶Òõ̽̽ GO International and ¶¶Òõ̽̽ GO Cities.

Students who participate in study abroad programs for university credit typically do so after their first year. Information about these programs is available through ¶¶Òõ̽̽'s Office of International Education.

All ¶¶Òõ̽̽ GO 2025 programs are open to incoming first-year students entering ¶¶Òõ̽̽ for the Fall 2025 semester, as long as there is no conflict with another ¶¶Òõ̽̽ Pre-Orientation Program (like International Student Orientation, First Scholars, TREK, etc.)

¶¶Òõ̽̽ GO International programs are available to incoming first-year students with a valid U.S. passport. Students must be 18 years old by the start of their program to participate in ¶¶Òõ̽̽ GO International programs. This age requirement does not apply to students participating in ¶¶Òõ̽̽ GO Cities, ¶¶Òõ̽̽ GO Community programs, or ¶¶Òõ̽̽ GO International programs located in Canada. Participants under the age of 18 will be asked to submit additional parental consent forms.

We encourage all students, regardless of financial or accessibility needs, to submit a lottery form for these programs.

¶¶Òõ̽̽ GO programs vary in length and the dates they take place. ¶¶Òõ̽̽ GO Cities and ¶¶Òõ̽̽ GO International take place in July and August, while ¶¶Òõ̽̽ GO Community takes place in late August, right before New Student Orientation. Please check out each program’s individual webpage for more tailored and detailed timelines!

Yes! Space on ¶¶Òõ̽̽ GO programs is limited. When the enrollment period opens, you’ll enter a lottery for your selected program(s). In the ¶¶Òõ̽̽ GO International and ¶¶Òõ̽̽ GO Cities Lottery, you may select up to three locations that you are excited about. If you are entering the ¶¶Òõ̽̽ GO Community Lottery, you are ONLY eligible to participate in the program(s) offered in your assigned Residential Learning Community. If you are not drawn in the initial lottery, you will be placed on the waitlist. Waitlist offers will go out on a rolling basis, so keep an eye on your ¶¶Òõ̽̽ email!

First-round ¶¶Òõ̽̽ GO International and ¶¶Òõ̽̽ GO Cities applicants will receive notification in late May and are expected to pay and secure their spot within one week. First-round ¶¶Òõ̽̽ GO Community applicants will receive notification in late June and are expected to pay and secure their spot within one week.

¶¶Òõ̽̽ GO International and ¶¶Òõ̽̽ GO Cities are organized and led by ¶¶Òõ̽̽ faculty and their coleaders who bring their own areas of expertise within the realm of global learning. ¶¶Òõ̽̽ GO Community programs are organized and led by ¶¶Òõ̽̽ faculty and your Residential Learning Community staff.

You are not required to accept your spot in a ¶¶Òõ̽̽ GO program if you are offered one – students will need to officially register and pay in full to secure their spot on the trip. We do offer full or partial refunds for students who need to unenroll from the program. Please check each ¶¶Òõ̽̽ GO program’s webpage to see the timeline for refunds or email us at uvmgo@uvm.edu to request a refund.

No, completing your lottery application early in the open enrollment period will not impact or improve your chances of selection.

Yes! Preferences can be made for the three programs you are most interested in between ¶¶Òõ̽̽ GO International and ¶¶Òõ̽̽ GO Cities.

Absolutely! The ¶¶Òõ̽̽ GO Community lottery opens after the initial lottery for ¶¶Òõ̽̽ GO International and ¶¶Òõ̽̽ GO Cities has closed. You will know by that time which program or waitlist you were accepted into for ¶¶Òõ̽̽ GO International and ¶¶Òõ̽̽ GO Cities.

No, students are ONLY allowed to enter the lottery for their specific Learning Community placement. We hope that students will build relationships with members of their Residential Learning Community through this experience!

Please email us at uvmgo@uvm.edu if you have concerns about any program, including but not limited to anticipated physicality, available food options, gendered rooming preferences, or individual medical needs. We are happy to discuss options that allow you to participate fully in this experience.

Students with any type of disability are encouraged to apply and participate in any ¶¶Òõ̽̽ GO program. We will provide reasonable and appropriate accommodations, in consultation with ¶¶Òõ̽̽ Student Accessibility Services.

¶¶Òõ̽̽ GO costs depend on the program. Please check out our costs webpage and our lottery application for a more detailed breakdown of this information. Meals, lodging, transportation on program, activities, entrance fees, and administrative costs necessary to run the program are covered by the program fee.

No, travel is not included in the program fee. An additional airfare charge will be added to any international programs requiring group travel from a centralized departure city to the program destination. This charge will be applied when you register and pay for your ¶¶Òõ̽̽ GO program. For all other programs, participants are responsible for their travel expenses and logistics. Specific travel details for each program will be clearly communicated on the website, and during the registration and lottery process.

If needed, we can connect you with ¶¶Òõ̽̽’s travel planning service to help you with the flight booking process. There is a fee to use this service.

Students can request a reduced program fee through their lottery application; this will have no bearing on acceptance into ¶¶Òõ̽̽ GO.

Yes. Full or partial refunds are available within posted timeframes or at the discretion of the ¶¶Òõ̽̽ GO team. If you need to request a refund, please contact us at uvmgo@uvm.edu.

It depends. Some ¶¶Òõ̽̽ GO International programs require participants to travel to the destination as a group. For example, in 2024, ¶¶Òõ̽̽ GO International programs in Iceland and Costa Rica required group flights with trip leaders from a centralized departure city, which was booked by ¶¶Òõ̽̽ GO.

For all ¶¶Òõ̽̽ GO Cities programs as well as ¶¶Òõ̽̽ GO Vancouver, participants are responsible for making their own travel arrangements to/from the arranged meeting place in the destination city. Participants in ¶¶Òõ̽̽ GO Montreal will begin and end their program at ¶¶Òõ̽̽ and are responsible for arranging travel to/from Burlington. Details for specific trips can be found on the program’s web page. If needed, we can connect you with ¶¶Òõ̽̽’s travel planning service to help you with the flight booking process. There is a fee to use this service.

Students participating in ¶¶Òõ̽̽ GO Community will be expected to move into their Residence Hall on the Sunday BEFORE New Student Orientation, when their program begins. The ¶¶Òõ̽̽ GO Team and Residential Life staff will be ready to help with early move-in for these students.

Lodging for ¶¶Òõ̽̽ GO International and ¶¶Òõ̽̽ GO Cities will often be through hostels, hotels, or summer housing options at other university campuses. Students will be staying with their fellow ¶¶Òõ̽̽ students and faculty trip leaders for the duration of the program. Students who participate in ¶¶Òõ̽̽ GO Community will move in early to their assigned Residence Hall and room. Fees for all ¶¶Òõ̽̽ GO programs cover lodging for students.

¶¶Òõ̽̽ GO staff will be sure to keep students updated throughout the summer with information on their trips, including detailed itineraries and packing lists. These newsletters will be sent regularly, so keep an eye on your ¶¶Òõ̽̽ email! You can see a list of sample activities on each program’s web page as details are confirmed.

Over the summer, you’ll receive an introduction and welcome message from your Program Leaders. Additionally, participants in ¶¶Òõ̽̽ GO International or ¶¶Òõ̽̽ GO Cities programs will be invited to a virtual meeting in July with other students and families, faculty, and staff to review your program’s itinerary and have your questions answered.

A valid U.S. passport is required for all ¶¶Òõ̽̽ GO International programs. In most cases, your passport’s expiration date needs to be at least six months after your trip ends. If your trip involves a group flight to your international destination, our travel planner will need your passport information at the time of booking, generally in early May. If you need additional information about applying for or renewing your passport, visit the . Please note that passports can take 10-13 weeks to process.