If you participate in a study abroad experience as an undergrad, and then apply to graduate or professional programs, how likely is it that your study abroad transcript will be required as a part of the application?
For my study abroad courses, only the credits will transfer back, not the grades. The courses will be transferred back and posted to my unofficial (but not official) transcript at my home institution (UM) as long as I get a C or above. If I fail to get at least a C, then there will simply be no indication of me even taking the course on any of my UM records. Either way, my GPA will not be affected. My official transcript will simply name the institution I studied abroad at, nothing more.
I am definitely not aiming to just barely pass my classes, but I definitely did underestimate the competitiveness of the courses at the abroad institution. I am not concerned about my ability to pass, but it is apparently very difficult to get A grades due to the competition with students whose home institution is the abroad institution (I am not just taking blow off classes). Studying should definitely not be my only activity, as I could have just stayed at UM if that was my intention. I hope that as long as I can get at least B’s of some sort, it shouldn’t significantly impact admissions.
One major concern is of course the ability and/or the process of requesting a transcript from the abroad institution after returning to the US. The abroad institution I am at does not have the online transcript request service that many US institutions have available. Upon departure, I would be provided with my own copy, and the registrar’s office at UM will be provided with a copy.