Hello,
I am having a dilemma about what I should do about not receiving as much study abroad credit as expected. I took 5 classes and the director didnt count each class for a full 3 credits. The only statement we received about study abroad grades and credit is that we can take up to 30 study abroad institution credits and most students receive 15-18 transfer credits. From there, I thought in order to receive 15 credits, I would need to take what I would take at my home university–5 courses. After receiving my grades back today, however, I only received 12.5 credits to my surprise. On top of that, I am a senior on track to graduate in the spring and I waited for some time (3 semesters later) for the office to process my abroad materials (my advisor had to call the director multiple times in order for her to process my transcript). Because of that delay, i am just now finding out that I am now behind about 2.5 credits even if I were to double up. I am worried that this will make me not graduate on time! I dont have money to take summer courses, etc.
What should I do? I called the director and she was rude. I want to appeal so that these courses can equal 3 credits instead of 2.5…the letter grades were not covered and the institution is just as good as my home one. I did the same amount of work so I find it insane that I would have had to take 6-7 classes abroad JUST to meet the minimum. As I mentioned, the grades were not covered so I had to adjust to being in a new country, learning a new language while taking these classes. The american students I met abroad were taking 4-5 classes…no one went above that amount.
Another reason to appeal is that I looked through the materials I was sent and nowhere does it say that one course would equal 2.5 instead of 3 credits. Why not tell the students that? And if the minimum required was 15 credits why didnt the office say anything when they asked to screen my abroad course load prior to me taking off abroad? I am SO confused.
Any advice would be much appreciated
my experience with higher education administration has made me afraid of ever going back to school
Was this study abroad sponsored by your college? Is this an ongoing program?
It is ongoing. Multiple students from across the country and world were exchange students with me
If the director isn’t being helpful, go higher up. Make an appointment with the Dean of Students. Be polite, reasonable and present your case calmly. Bring the materials you were sent. Explain the delays with getting your transcript, that your advisor had to call more than once to get them, and that you can’t afford to stay in school longer or take summer courses. From the sounds of it, you were misled and the program isn’t run well. The Dean might be able to help - and should certainly know about the program’s problems as well.
Spoke to my roommate from a dif American uni who studied abroad in same program and each of her classes transferred as 3 credit
That may or may not be relevant: schools have discretion to assign credit as they see fit. But do bring it up during your conversation with the Dean.One phone call to the program director from a high-level administrator at your school may be all it takes to sort this out.
@katliamom
thank you so much for your response. it really helps knowing that my concern is valid. i will take your advice and contact the dean/whoever. i feel very slighted and would hate not to graduate on time bec of this.
My question was really was focused on whether this program was arranged through your school or not. If it was then you have a MUCH stronger case. If instead you went off on your own study abroad without coordinating with your school then you didn’t get the right prep work done.
If you are 2.5 credits short of graduating, pick up a 3 credit course RIGHT NOW. You may win your appeal and that would be great. If you don’t, you don’t want to have to pay another full semester of tuition. There is some 3 credit class, somewhere at your university, that you can take and ace. Pick something you are good at - art history, movie with a lecture class (one of my all time favorites was War Movies and I learned a ton and remember a ton). See if you can take the class Pass/Fail. Take another 3 credits of a foreign language (did you learn one in study abroad?). Anything!
don’t fail to graduate. I have a friend who needed one Spanish class. 30 years later she needs one Spanish class.
If the study abroad program was arranged through your home university, then it should have well documented policies or articulation listings on how course credit from the away university is transferred back. If it does, then it is the student’s responsibility to check that carefully before studying abroad and choosing courses. If it does not, then shame on the home university.
It sounds like you have grounds to be unhappy with how it was handled, but it also sounds like you may be stuck with the decision. I assume that this is not a school sponsored program (or else you have more grounds to complain) and I think this is not uncommon. I would speak to a Dean, but beyond that there may not be a lot you can do.
I was in this exact position (way back when) and was left a class short when not all of my classes transferred from my non-school sponsored study abroad. For me, at least, this turned out to be not at all a big deal. I did have to make up the credits after I graduated, and received my diploma late, but I walked with my class and was “done” with my school when I expected to be. Taking a class over the summer (and yes… definitely do it then to get your diploma) will hopefully not be a big problem. For me I was able to do it anywhere, and had a great summer working, exploring Berkeley and taking a class. That was pretty cheap back then, but now I think there are more cheaper ways to take a college class. It often nowhere as expensive as your original school would have been.
How many hours were each class per week?
3 credit classes are usually 3 hours (well, 3 x 50 minutes) per week. Were the study abroad ones less?
I agree that the school is screwing you over a bit here. But it also sounds like you failed to check that you were taking enough credits:
I’m surprised that you went ahead based on these very general claims by the college and (frankly) guesswork on your part.
You need to be doing two things simultaneously- go ahead and appeal, and come up with plan B based on an assumption that your appeal won’t work.
I agree figure out a gut course you can take and take it or something else pass fail, then see if you can get more credits. I wish schools would be clearer about stuff like this. My son did three study abroad programs all at different institutions and despite all the checking ahead of time it was a bit hit or miss as to what would and wouldn’t get covered. He took intensive immersion Arabic one semester where he was taking four Arabic classes a day - but he didn’t get credit for nearly that many. In the meantime he got full credit for a history of Islam course that he said he missed the whole first third of because his Arabic was not yet good enough to understand what the professor was saying! He spent a lot of time figuring out what would count to make sure he’d be able to graduate in time.
Anyway good luck to you. The fact that other colleges are granting more credit for the same course is definitely a plus - I’d check with other students in the program and see if it’s true for more students than just the one.
Thanks everyone for your input.
@twoinanddone the thing is if I pick up another 3 credit course, that would put me over the limit allowed each semester. I can see if I can be exempt from the credit limit policy because of my situation.
Pass/Failing that extra class is a great idea.
The amount of work/class time was pretty much the same as my home university so I am confused that they expected students to take 7 classes in order to get 15 credits. Each class met once a week for a little less than 3 hrs–2h50. I deserve a whole 3 credits and bec of that I do feel like I should appeal.
You will not have a successful appeal if your argument is “I deserve a whole 3 credits”. The response from the university is going to be “no you do not”. You need a fact based, rational argument put down in writing, not a temper tantrum.
The fact is that asking an institution to grant you credit for work done elsewhere is ALWAYS at the discretion of the degree granting institution. Always. They can grant AP credit for work done in HS or not; they can grant credit for dual enrollment while you were in HS or not; they can give you credit for summer school completed elsewhere or not, etc. Study abroad is no different.
Approaching this as an “I deserve” exercise isn’t your best foot forward.
@blossom very true. sorry had a bratty moment. ill watch my tone and word choice during this appeal process.
good luck to you!