Study abroad programs and other international experiences provide the means to enrich the collegiate curriculum and develop the whole person approach to education. The outcomes of an educational experience in an international setting are highly dependent upon the extent to which the participant in the experience has been prepared for it. This article identifies and explains a set of ten criteria for successful involvement in international experience programs. Successful study abroad programs do not just happen. To get the most out of these experiences participants must be goal oriented, focused, resourceful, management oriented, culturally wise, perceptive, and ready for new experiences as well as capable of developing an international mind-set. An international experience is a worthy educational tool. However, it must be approached with a clear set of criteria to judge its potential value.