The other day, I saw a friend’s photos in America. I said to myself, I wonder why he went? I also occasionally saw him in work clothes. Both in America and working? Then I realized the whole thing was Work And Travel. Work and Travel, or WAT for short, is where you go in the summer, work in America for 2.5 months, and in the remaining 15-20 days, you travel around America as much as you can. So how do you do this? You don’t know your way around, and as for English, it’s just enough to explain myself, as Cem Yılmaz puts it.

I’m going to try to prepare for this year, but it most likely won’t be ready in time, so it looks like it will be left for the summer months of next year. Now, as a result of my research, I will try to answer questions that were also on my mind—like how to do this Work And Travel, what is spent, what is eaten, where to sleep—in my own way, using the answers I found in forums and on agency pages.

First of all, what is needed for Work And Travel?

First, you need to be between the ages of 18-26 and be a university student. And to be successful in getting a visa, a GPA of 2 out of 4 is required. Most importantly, you need to be able to speak English, even at an intermediate level, to seize job opportunities there. Your English will also affect your job choices over there. This, in turn, will impact the amount of money you earn. And of course, money is needed. I looked at the general averages; the organizations that provide us with this opportunity ask for an average of 1500 to 1900 dollars. So you need to save up money.

Why should one go to this program, and why shouldn’t one go?

Friends, do not join this program with the dream that “my non-existent English will become awesome there.” Or don’t go with the dream of “I will go there and return here with a ton of money.” If you say, “I’ll go and just slack off there, I won’t take on any responsibility,” this is not for you either. You must have the stamina to handle the work pace. If you are someone who is always dependent on their family while doing things, rest assured this program is not for you.

My thought is that the purpose of this program is to be able to stand on your own two feet in another country. Imagine you go, and the moment you step off the plane, you are all alone; you will even have to find your house yourself using the address given to you. You have a work address and you will go work there at certain hours every day, among people whose culture and lifestyle you do not fully know.

My goals for going there are, first of all, to see a new country and lifestyle. Then, to experience working in an unknown, unfamiliar country and to earn money. When you go there, it’s about meeting new people somehow. These people can be American, they might mostly be Turkish, or even Asian. Since you are in WAT anyway, you will spend more time with other WATers. Then, sharing the same house with people you don’t know and taking on responsibility. Or, say you are late for work, something happens, and the responsibility and financial loss fall entirely on you. And finally, taking a nice trip. I mean, if you have a bit of an adventurous spirit, don’t view this as grunt work—I read that in some forums, too. They called it total drudgery, saying “to hell with WAT,” but that’s just a mindset. I think this is an opportunity for self-improvement. You have to seize opportunities. It won’t be easy to return to these university years again. Chill out a bit. But I don’t mean just slack off when you join this program; if you stick to the program, discipline will work in your favor. Finally, I said don’t go just for the English, but of course, if you are outgoing, your English will also improve as your ears get accustomed to it.

In this section, I will try to answer your questions like: what will I eat when I go there, where will I sleep, how will I find a job, and who will guide me?

I’m starting from the very beginning. First, you need an organization in Turkey that will take you there and provide you with opportunities like a job. As a result of my research, the institution I had in mind was the organization called Armada Grande, which can help us with Work And Travel. I read that if we contact this organization and handle the fees like 1500-1900 dollars as I mentioned before, this organization helps us with questions like the preparations needed for visa procedures and where to find the cheapest flight tickets to America.

Then, this company also arranges the place where you will work. If you say, “I will arrange the workplace myself,” there is a decrease in the fee amount. There is a person in America who will help you with these matters. But this doesn’t mean you will call this person for every little thing. You get off the plane, and first, you make your own way to the place you will stay using the address provided. Then you meet with the employee in America who collaborates with the institution in Turkey and make your way to your workplace. This person in America is the one who will help you the moment you get into trouble. By the way, who you will stay with in the house or motel-like place is entirely up to luck. The food situation is pretty much like a bachelor pad setup. And once you get the hang of your job, you will start working. Of course, you will have days off; during that time, you’ll be able to go out and travel with the friends you’ve made. When you join this program, you must be outgoing; throw shyness aside and be sociable. Rest assured, the more outgoing you are, the larger your social circle will be.

When and how can I apply to the program? Here I will share the information found on the Armada Grande website.

Our registrations for the 2015 Work & Travel season started in July. Our registrations will continue until February 15, 2015. You can take advantage of the early registration discount until January 31, 2015.

You can find other important dates for the Work and Travel application process below:

You must apply for a passport between December 1, 2014, and January 1, 2015. If you want to get detailed information about passports, you can use the guide we have prepared for you.

Job fairs are organized between December 1, 2014, and April 30, 2015.

US Visa applications take place between February 1, 2015, and June 15, 2015.

Our activities to arrange the most suitable flight ticket for you will begin between March 1, 2015, and May 15, 2015.

We will have our orientation activities between May 15, 2015, and June 15, 2015.

You can enter America based on the end of your academic calendar and the date indicated on your employment contract.

Also, at the bottom, I will share videos of a few friends who have done Work And Travel. They have shared some really good information. I am already trying to save money, raise my GPA a bit more, and improve my English, even slightly, for a better job opportunity. I think you should start working on it now, too.

UPDATE: September 24, 2014

Since my university GPA is currently below 2.00, I contacted Armada Grande via e-mail and asked if this would be an issue. The answer I received was that the GPA is indeed important when getting a visa. However, if your English is at a good level, there is a possibility of getting a visa even with a 1.80 GPA. I also asked a question regarding the fee. In response to my question about what is included in the fee we pay between 1500 and 1900, a price list was sent to me. You can see this fee list in the section below. Also, thanks to Armada Grande for answering all my questions nicely and taking care of me..