<p>When you did your study abroad did the credits you earn qualify towards your major required courses or just for electives? Did you do the study abroad through your own university or some associated program?</p>
<p>I have not done one yet but im planning on one in about 14 months. It is run through another University that is on a “direct transfer” list, where credits automatically transfer, now i just have to haggle with the polisci department to see what they will be transfering as…</p>
<p>Yes- that becomes the big question. Will classes taken at the study abroad university count as replacement for certain required courses or as just general electives within the field of study.</p>
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<p>Exactly! I get lots of PMs from students telling me studying abroad ruined their GPA. Most study abroad programs seem to fail completely to inform students about who grades/credit are converted to the American system, and most students fail to ask before they board that plane. It’s great that you have already thought of this. It will be different for every program and every country, so take care to do your research when choosing a program. Good luck with your study abroad.</p>
<p>Tom,</p>
<p>My daughter studied abroad last semester in UK, and is in Spain this semester. All of her courses had to be aproved by her home university BEFORE she left. They were also categorized as major or elective, so she knew exactly what was what. The credits translate, but the GPA is not calculated, but she must earn the equivalent of a C to get the credit.</p>
<p>gloworm- thank you. Knowing what the course equivalents are and how they will count is important. In doing some google searches I have found several schools that have charts making it easy. I wish my D’s school would do the same.</p>
<p>Tom,</p>
<p>If your daughter knows which abroad university she will be at, they might have online course descriptions she can compare to those her home university has. My daughter did this with her Study Abroad advisor. She wound up taking 8 courses-4 in one major, 2 in another major, 1 in a minor, one common curriculum.</p>
<p>gloworm- she e-mailed both the study abroad coordinator and the Spanish department and asked. The program is run through her school so it should be easy for them.</p>