This is exciting
Join the Catholic University & Verto Education family!
First things first
Congratulations!
On behalf of Catholic University and Verto Education, we’re thrilled to recognize your academic and extracurricular achievements and are excited that you are considering this distinctive adventure. You’ve spent the past four years working hard to build your record, and most likely following a pretty regimented curriculum. You put in the hours and the work and your accomplishments have been recognized by the Committee on Admission at Catholic University and the Verto Education team. Your distinctive path to a college degree in four years starts with setting your own path in both education and life.
Getting Started
We’re sure you have a lot of questions
We know you probably have questions. We’ll do our best to hit the big pieces below and give you all the resources you might need to address the next steps and find the education path that’s right for you.
Have immediate questions? Don’t hesitate to shoot us an email at CUAadmissions@vertoeducation.org
Review Your Offer
Step 1: Confirm Your Spot
Confirm your interest in the opportunity to travel the world next semester, while still graduating from Catholic University in four years, by submitting the form and leaving a deposit.
Accepted Student
Verto Education Enrollment Checklist
Here are a few steps to get you started on the enrollment process for your first semester (or year) with Verto Education, and to secure your spot with Catholic University upon completion.
Step 1: Confirm Your Spot
Confirm your interest in the opportunity to travel the world next semester, while still graduating from Catholic University in four years, by submitting the form below. A member of the Verto Education team will follow up with you with more information.
Step 2: Submit Your Deposit to Secure Your Spot
In order to accept your position with Verto Education, submit a $500 deposit.
Step 3: Choose a Program
We offer a growing selection of semesters designed to help students achieve a more rewarding freshman year through experiential education in multiple, unique and distinct regions across the world.
YOU’RE ACCEPTED!
Step 4: Apply for a Passport
Once you’ve decided on a program, the Verto Education team will work with you to ensure you have all the travel documents you need – most importantly a Passport!
Step 5: Complete Your Onboarding Documents
Verto Education has a comprehensive onboarding process designed to make sure you feel academically and emotionally supported on your semester abroad. We’ll work with you to make sure that dietary, learning and any other needs you have are met.
Step 6: Attend an Accepted Students Webinar
Connect with other Verto Education students before you depart and meet your in-country team. This webinar is designed to make sure you know what to pack, who to call, and all about what activities you have to look forward to on your semester abroad.
Step 7: Work with Verto Education to Book Your Flights
The Verto Education team will help you book your flights and let you know who else will be traveling on a similar route so you can meet up with fellow students on your way to your first semester abroad.
Step 8: Prepare for the Adventure of a Lifetime
No lecture halls this freshman year, time to start daydreaming about all the people you’ll meet, lessons you’ll learn and the memories you’ll make next year. Before the program starts, you’ll get paired up with a mentor to do 1-1 goal setting for what you want to accomplish this semester!
Step 3: Choose a Semester Abroad
We encourage you to explore our different programs below. If you have any questions or would like to talk with one of our admissions counselors to help decide which might be the perfect fit for you, we’d love to get to know you and we can absolutely make some meaningful recommendations based on decades of experience. Send us an email at CUAadmissions@vertoeducation.org
* All semester links below open in a new browser tab.
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London, England
The England Semester
Students on the England semester with Verto Education will be based at an AES Study Center in Russell Square with other international students. They’ll take courses with local faculty trained in the Verto method and explore the vibrant city of London through classes and study tours.
In their downtime students can travel to the British countryside, have a curry on Brick Lane, cheer for a local football (soccer!) team, or just relax at one of the many pubs or cafes. England is the perfect destination for artists, history buffs, sports fans, and everyone in between.
Semester at-a-glance
- 12 Week Semester
- 16 Credits Total
- $20,000 Tuition
- Student Residence “Flat” Style
Notable Academic Components
- Live at the AES Study Center in Russell Square with other international students.
- Visit local attractions and explore London
- Access to Verto professors & Staff
Semester Curriculum
- Politics of Britain and Europe
- Rhetoric and Composition
- World Literature
- Identity, Politics & Equity
- European History
- International Business
Extracurricular Highlights
- Neighborhood walking tour
- Explore the vibrant city of London
- Double Decker Bus Tour
- Visit to Parliament
- Graffiti tour in East London
USA
Hawaii Semester
Spend eight weeks of your Verto semester on the Big Island of Hawaii and a month in Maui. While studying Cultural Anthropology, learn how Hawaii’s history has shaped its unique culture. Explore Hawaiian values, customs, and traditions through interviews, field notes, and incredible local experiences. While taking a Sociology course focusing on Identity, Politics, and Equity, learn from local NGOs and activists how identity can shape activism and lead to positive social change.
Semester at-a-glance
- 12 Week Semester
- 16 Credits Total
- $13,000 or $20,000*
*based on Opportunity Grant Qualification - Mix of hotels, hostels, homestays, base houses, and student residences
Notable Academic Components
- Study Hawaii’s natural history and the impact of climate change
- Explore some of the island’s most beautiful coastal and inland locations
- Access to Verto professors & Staff
Semester Curriculum
- World Literature
- Introduction to Cultural Anthropology
- Identity, Politics & Equity
- Environmental Science
- Rhetoric & Composition
Extracurricular Highlights
- Hawaiian traditions and cultural practices like wayfinding
- Coffee plantation tours
- Snorkeling
- Surfing trip
- Hiking expedition
- Waterfall tour
South Pacific
Fiji, New Zealand, & Australia
Verto Education’s South Pacific semester is designed to explore the complex relationship between human actions within the environment and animal populations across a variety of ecosystems.
Students examine environmental management practices, critical issues in environmental and cultural conservation, the relationship between organisms and their environment, and species conservation and management.
Semester at-a-glance
- 13 Week Semester
- 16 Credits Total
- $25,000 Tuition
- Mix of hotels, hostels, homestays, base houses, and student residences
Notable Academic Components
- Students will live in a mix of hotels, hostels, homestays, base houses, and student residences. All accommodations are approved through Verto’s thorough vetting process and deemed safe and appropriate for students.
- Students spend 13 weeks abroad, including 5 weeks in Fiji, 4 weeks in New Zealand, and 4 weeks in Australia.
Semester Curriculum
- Rhetoric & Composition
- World Literature
- Introduction to Cultural Anthropology
- Identity, Politics & Equity
- Environmental Science
Extracurricular Highlights
- Whitewater rafting
- Farmstay in New Zealand
- Visit to the Australian Zoo
- Great Barrier Reef
- Glowworm Caves
The Most Common Questions We Get
What Does Verto Education Cost
Current semester program costs are listed on our individual program pages and start at $5,000 per semester depending on the location(s) chosen.
What does tuition cover?
Program costs include all meals, accommodation, ground transportation, and activities not marked as optional. Optional activities such as weekend excursions, snorkeling and SCUBA will be available at an extra cost. The cost of travel to and from the program’s start and end location is not covered, but all travel while on the program is covered.
- Three meals per day during the entire program
- Accommodation throughout the program
- All activities, unless marked optional
- All transportation, except for flights, while on the program.
- International SOS (ISOS) Membership – the world’s leading medical & travel security assistance company.
Which general education credits does this semester cover?
Each semester is different, but Verto Education has worked directly with the Catholic University academic team to ensure that no matter which one you choose, those classes will map directly to your General Education credits.
How can I still graduate in four years?
Verto Education is a semester of college, without the lecture halls. You’ll earn general education credits just like you would a semester on campus and still be able to graduate in four years.
Safety & Risk Management
What safety and risk management measures are in place?
As a leader in our industry, Verto Education and our partners take the health and wellbeing of our students extremely seriously. We have comprehensive risk management and crisis response systems and go to great lengths to educate and train our leaders in first aid and screen each of our participants. In fact, nearly all of our full-time operations staff, including Program Leaders are certified as Wilderness First Responders.
To complement these efforts, we are partnered with International SOS, one of the world’s leading providers of global medical and emergency services. All participants traveling with Verto have access to International SOS’s benefits. Click here for more information on the services provided by International SOS and here to learn more about our Safety and Risk Management policies. Please note, the membership provided by ISOS is not health or travel insurance.
What happens if I get sick and have to come home early?
By planning ahead, reading all material, and following the rules, the vast majority of our students are able to complete their chosen programs. We encourage all participants to purchase a travel insurance policy that allows for more flexibility and covers cancellations that occur outside of the refundable period of our cancellation policy.
How will family be able to communicate with me while on the program?
Phone and internet service are often readily available to our students. However, there are portions of our programs during which students will need to go up to two weeks without access to phones or internet. We encourage students to limit communication with their parents to a phone call or message no more than once per week. This ensures group cohesion, the building of trust among students and leaders, and allows for the most culturally immersive experiences. We suggest that students and their parents create communication plans that set clear expectations around the frequency of and reasons for contacting each other. In urgent situations, students and parents have access to our 24-hour emergency line, which they can call for immediate assistance.
How are prescription medications handled?
It will be the responsibility of the traveler to make sure you bring enough medication for the duration of your entire program and to let us know what you are bringing. Please remember some countries might not have the meds you prefer. If you normally get a smaller dosage than you will need for your entire program, you will need to apply for a “vacation waiver” from your doctor, as sending prescription medications overseas is usually met with difficulties when it arrives into the country and often does not make it to the recipient.
Do I need immunizations?
We are here to help with this, but legally cannot provide direct medical advice on vaccinations and inoculations. However, We suggest you visit this page for up-to-date information. Additionally, when you participate in our programs, we provide you with an included membership to International SOS, our partner for global emergency and medical services. This is a great resource for specific regional information and travel consultation. Prior to travel, you should review these websites, consult with your local travel clinic, and discuss your travel plans with your physician. Be aware that some immunizations involve a series of shots or medications, so don’t put this off for the last minute.
Did we miss something?
Let us know how we can help. Someone from our team will get back to you ASAP.
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