<p>Although its uncommon, I'd like to study abroad my second semester of freshman year (not really important why) and after speaking with the director at the financial aid office of Baruch College, I was told that I do not have enough of an academic reason for him to recommend me for the program.</p>
<p>Can I do direct enrollment at the school i was planning to study abroad at? (Tel Aviv University in Israel)</p>
<p>Is there a way I can verify that my credits will transfer?</p>
<p>Have you spoken to the director of the Study Abroad program at your college?</p>
<p>Most won’t let you study abroad freshman year.</p>
<p>As I recall, Israel is on a special list of countries where not only do you have to get accepted into a study abroad program, but you also have to get clearance from the government.</p>
<p>If you get the chance to go, I would highly recommend it. I’ve been to Israel twice in my life and it was such a remarkable experience. It has really helped define me as a person.</p>
<p>If getting there is the important thing, maybe you could defer your admittance and participate in some sort of study program in Israel (there are many types of schools, often religious, that offer one-year or shorter programs for non-Israeli students).</p>
<p>I made a mistake in my original post. I meant to say the Director from the Study Abroad Office.</p>
<p>He will not recommend me a for a semester abroad my freshman year. Is there an alternative? I most likely wont be able to go after my freshman year…its complicated.</p>
<p>One of the reasons I;d like to go is to experience the non-religious universitys within israel such as Tel Aviv University. Although I have though about going to a yeshiva in the past.</p>
<p>…bump…</p>
<p>Have you considered Birthright? It’s a start, at least. There’s tons of programs in Israel that aren’t necessarily study abroad-- I know someone now who is doing a 6 week summer program where he spends half the day at a yeshiva and half the day at an internship handpicked to match his major/career/interests. He’s provided with room and board and everything. Israel has tons of things like that because so many organizations are eager to get kids to Israel.</p>
<p>Have you considered Young Judaea Year Course? Don’t know if it is late to apply for this year but they seem open to accommodating those who wish to go. It’s a combination of experiences with several choices. You would then defer admission and ask about any credit you can earn there being transferable. Some colleges ask not to take credit during deferment, so classes for credit is optional. YJ is pluralistic and would not resemble a Yeshiva experience. </p>
<p>Another option is the many summer abroad options in Israel. Birthright is great, but it is a 10 day trip. Once you attend any other peer based trip to Israel, you would be ineligible for Birthright though, as it is reserved for people who did not have a peer visit experience. If you are considering Birthright, you would have to do this first.</p>
<p>If you enroll on your own at a university, I expect you could re apply as a transfer student. The colleges that I know of will not allow you to defer admission and enroll in other college courses, so you would have to re apply. However, if you choose to attend college there, I suppose you could apply as a transfer student and it would be up to the college to accept the credits you have earned. Such a decision could possibly affect financial aid, so consider this ahead of time.</p>
<p>Have you thought about going through another university?</p>
<p>Has op mentioned if they are Jewish? If they aren’t, that’d make them ineligible for some programs such as Birthright. </p>
<p>Is there a specific reason why you can’t study abroad first semester of sophomore year instead?</p>
<p>
You could most certainly take a leave of absence and go to Israel on your own. Whether your credits would transfer is another question. What does your school’s transfer credit policy say? (Some schools won’t accept foreign transfer credit unless it’s pre-approved. Some say that they’ll evaluate for transfer credit after you come back, which would be a gamble on your part.)</p>
<p>Is there any way you could study abroad the summer before sophomore year?</p>