<p>So I'm considering studying abroad and I'm kinda excited when I think about/look into it further but I have my reservations. </p>
<p>So here are my main problems:
(1) At my school, the year you study abroad doesn't count towards your GPA. The year I go abroad, I only get credit towards my degree and that's it. The courses I take abroad are viewed as pass/fail. The issue I have with this is that my current cum GPA is a 3.0. So with me studying abroad, I would only have 4 semesters (2 sophomore year and 2 senior year) to bring up that 3.0 to the 3.5 range. Is that even possible? I guess the bright side is that whether I get an A, B, or C at whatever university I go to abroad, it's viewed the same (credit).</p>
<p>(2) I've never been to another country let alone taken an Airplane (I take a bus to school). I hear that planes are pretty expensive with luggage (I have 2 big suitcases) over a certain height and weight? Can anyone with flying experience discuss how expensive luggage can be?</p>
<hr>
<p>Other questions:
Does anyone know how currency conversion works? To be specific, I want to study abroad in London. So would it be fine if I come there with US $ or would I have to be there (London) already with pounds (£)? </p>
<p>Well I have a good friend who is a study abroad student from England who just finished studying at Wisconsin for a year. She said that international flights often allow you to have slightly heavier suitcases that domestic ones, and also she shipped a lot of stuff. That can be expensive but if you take most of your stuff in suitcases and ship the rest you should be okay.</p>
<p>Here in the US bags are usually a set cost (say $25) and then like $50 extra if it’s over 50 pounds or something. I think it’s pretty similar for international flights.</p>
<p>I don’t know the exchange rate, I know it’s changing all the time though. What my friend did was get a US bank account (she used the credit union for our school, perhaps the school you’d be at has a bank of sorts?), she put money in there online, and then she just used a debit card, I’m sure you could do the same thing in London. You can take out pounds at an ATM if you need cash. I’m sure at the London airport there is a currency exchange place so if you want to bring some cash with you, just bring some dollars on the plane and change them to pounds when you get there. I would conduct most of my money online and use a debit card though, it will be easier and you won’t be exchanging all the time.</p>
<p>I think the experience is worth far more than the grades. That’s just my opinion though. </p>
<p>As for airplanes (speaking as someone who’s been doing transatlantic flights since they were 11 months old), try not to go over the weight limit mainly. Depending on the airline, they have fees that can range from small to exorbitant. I actually got a suitcase for my trip from Honolulu to Huntsville that has a little detector in it that lights up when the suitcase is over 50 pounds (which is a pretty standard weight limit). Also, try to fly an airline that will give you one bag free (this is kind of a stretch, I’ve heard many airlines are discontinuing this feature).</p>
<p>If you have an iPhone, look into the currency app. You type in a number (say, $4, and it gives you the current equivalent for whatever currency you’re looking for). If you’re converting currency, do it at home in the US before you get over there. NEVER CHANGE CURRENCY IN THE AIRPORT. Make sure you keep some dollars to use in the American airport…it really sucks to be starving and cash-less. </p>
<p>Needless to say, this is has all come from my personal experience. YMMV.</p>
<p>As for the experience, that’s what I was thinking. Even my mom told me that this could be a great experience and that I should pursue it. I think the fact that grades aren’t counted Junior year will just get me even more motivation to slaughter the 4 semesters that do count towards my GPA.</p>
<p>As for the airlines, I may just intentionally bring less just to be safe. The last thing I want is to have to spend tons of money for suitcases that are overweight. And like RoxSox said, shipping may not be a bad idea.</p>
<p>I’m prob. just going to work the summer before I go abroad to make sure I have enough moolah.</p>
<p>Also be prepared that you WILL buy/get a lot of stuff when you’re over there. My friend only shipped two boxes but had to get a whole other HUGE box to put fit the stuff she accumulated. Shipping or taking suitcases is expensive, there’s no way around that, so make sure to do research and factor that in when you’re budgeting for study abroad.</p>
<p>And I think it would be a great experience, I’m thinking of studying abroad in Leeds my second semester of junior year, and I’m totally excited!</p>