<p>SwamscottSue - Our D signed up for a free travel blog while she did Study Abroad. It was a great way for her to stay in touch, and she took some great pictures too, whcih makes a nice coffee table book of her adventures. </p>
<p>Tell your D Good Luck and have fun.</p>
<p>I’m glad I found this thread - difficulty with financial aid for other study abroad and credit transfer. It gives me a little more information about U Chicago and will go in the ‘con’ column for my D in her college search.</p>
<p>I’ve not been aware that some schools restrict study abroad to only their own programs. That seems very limiting and counter to the goals some students may have in studying abroad.</p>
<p>D wanted a broader study abroad program than Wake Forest offered at their own locations in various countries. She did a semester long program called “Health & Community” through the International Honors Program - Switzerland, India, China & S. Africa. D had to get departmental approval for the courses she took through IHP, but that was fine. Wake accepted the credits with no problem, but wouldn’t count her IHP grades in her Wake GPA – which stunk since D got a 4.0 in her IHP courses. But, she had a life-changing experience, and it all worked out. Don’t know how how the FA question would have been answered – I’m sure that varies with each school.</p>
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<p>This is particularly a problem for those who are receiving financial aid.</p>
<p>D1’s school offers it’s own abroad programs and has a long list of others it endorses and gives class credit for. (Ie, go off the list and you may not get credit.) But, somewhere in all the info, they make it clear they cap the number of kids who can study off-campus in a given semester or year. This is to preserve their own number of seats filled, on campus. </p>
<p>If my D had been stymied, I’d make just enough nice fuss to ensure she was at the top of any wait lists. Lots of kids back out. But, be warned: some colleges make you pay a “hold fee” (a fee or % of tuition, etc) to hold your spot while you study on a program that your college does not run. And, some can make you re-apply for admission. My own experience is that you have to really did thru the college’s web info, to ensure you’re headed in the right direction. And, ask direct questions.</p>
<p>Please note: it’s usually PRIVATE schools that restrict credits from other institutions, including study abroad. Public schools are generally much more flexible on this issue, and easily grant credit earned through other public universities.</p>
<p>I think that there are 2 points of contention that are possibly being confused here: </p>
<p>1) Difficulty with obtaining credit for a study abroad program, and
2) Difficulty with getting one’s financial aid to subsidize a study abroad program</p>
<p>I’m sorry to hear of that disappointing news. I’m sure it is especially confusing having an expectation that failed. However, just like college in general, studying abroad is very competitive. Even if you go to school x, am in good standing, you still might not get in (as you witnessed first hand). Schools want highly qualified students attending and often have to compete with students at other universities applying to their program. Nonetheless, you shouldn’t think studying abroad is completely out of the question. There are several programs that are non-institutional, meaning they do not associate with a university at all. They still, however, offer many of the same locations and programs that are equally as rewarding for students. Furthermore, your daughter can still have the option to receive an [international</a> scholarship](<a href=“http://www.connect-123.com/about/scholarships/]international”>Scholarships | Connect-123) if she applies. This is something to really think about, as studying abroad is a once-in-a-lifetime event. Hope this helps!</p>
<p>My son’s college has three or four programs they sponsor plus numerous “preferred programs” they are connected with in most other countries. Most students at his school study abroad in their junior year. He is with an Arcadia Affiliated Program this semester.</p>
<p>I saw one of the greatest athletic performances at a Swampscott High School football game when I was young. My boss took us to a Thanksgiving Day game between Swampscott and their rivals Marblehead High. He pointed out to me a player named Dick Jauron for Swampscott who was very good. That day Jauron made several spectacular long runs and I forget how many touchdowns he scored. </p>
<p>I followed his career in college and later in the National Football League, and he eventually became a head football coach for the Buffalo Bills and Chicago Bears I believe. What an amazing runner!</p>
<p>My daughter’s small LAC in Iowa runs 2 off-campus study programs of their own - London and Washington DC, but a lot of students join outside programs. Students in her school usually do study abroad in their junior year. When I saw the list of students and countries, I thought that the sky was the limit…I guess that Financial Aid makes it possible to participate in those programs. Students are required to submit an application with three choices, meet GRA requirements, and have 4-year graduation plan with classes listed.
My daughter went to London for fall semester (her first choice) and had a great time. However, I believe that some of the offered programs are more competitive (you have to meet language requirement - complete certain level foreign language classes). They also send just 1-2 students to London School of Economics (the whole junior year program) - i guess it’s very competitive too.
Some of my daughter’s friends (science, biochem, pre-med track majors) opted out of study abroad because it was very difficult to participate and still graduate in four years. Another friend was scheduled to do his study abroad program in Japan last Spring. When they cancelled it after earthquake/tsunami, it was already too late to return back to college. Unfortunately, he had to take that semester off and will be staying at school for the next fall.
Good luck to your daughter, the OP! Maybe she can apply to study abroad for spring semester instead of fall and list more choices?</p>
<p>You should definitely check into the programs offered by NYU. NYU Global Academic Centers are located in ten of the world’s most fascinating cities–Accra, Berlin, Buenos Aires, Florence, London, Madrid, Paris, Prague, Shanghai, and Tel Aviv. Current NYU undergraduates and students at other accredited colleges are eligible to enroll for a semester or academic year at the Centers. The programs offered at these locations are completely run by NYU, with NYU owned or leased classrooms and administrative offices, and NYU hired and supervised instructors and program administrators. At some of the locations NYU also owns or leases dorm facilities, though many students choose to do home stays with families pre-screened by NYU. </p>
<p>My daughter, who was an NYU student, did a summer program in Florence, Italy, and attended NYU in Madrid, Spain, the following fall. She said that both locations were about 50% NYU students and 50% students from other US universities. Interestingly, in both locations it turned out that her closest friend ended up being from the University of Chicago, so clearly other Chicago students have gotten approval to study abroad through NYU. Just be sure to check with the administrators at Chicago to verify that the credits will transfer properly. I believe that all the NYU programs (except London) require students to take at least one class in the relevant language while abroad, at their skill level, of course. </p>
<p>Here is the link to the NYU study abroad programs: [Undergraduate</a> Semester or Academic Year Abroad](<a href=“Studying Abroad”>Studying Abroad)</p>
<p>I think the OP said the problem is that Chicago limits the number of kids it allows to study abroad through ANY program, at the same time. They don’t want to lose too many kids from their campus at once. Which I think is a pretty cheap budget-driven attitude, since every college I can think of that we toured touted how proud they were of how many students studied abroad.</p>
<p>That is true of many colleges, they all seem proud and encouraging and don’t bring up any negatives with study abroad. I remember (somewhat because of room) Boston College students saying they were very encouraged to study abroad and others, like a large state school near me, they were working on getting more students to go, they didn’t know why it wasn’t more popular.</p>
<p>While I worked on financial numbers during application process, one of my twins knew she wanted to study abroad so much, that she didn’t apply to 2 colleges that said she couldn’t use her aid for study abroad or had strict limits to access. It isn’t something always in black and white but these were things I never thought to ask at first and I’m glad she did. The financial aid isn’t always a given.</p>
<p>My D has decided not to attend her school’s study abroad programs, because the courses offered while abroad directly relate to the department of the University faculty member at that abroad location that particular semester (an art history prof in Austria will mean an art history emphasis on courses). There will be no profs from her majors going abroad her junior or senior years, since one in one of her majors is abroad right now, and she is only a freshman. The school has 5 or 6 different abroad programs. Instead, we are going to have her travel abroad next summer for 8 weeks. The goal really, in our opinion, is exposure to other cultures, seeing the sights, etc. Not so much the “classroom” experience. Travel for 8 weeks, going to several different countries, should suffice. There are many ways to get the “abroad” experience without paying for an entire semester, and without “giving up” opportunities at the home campus while being away. In the end, to have that travel experience and exposure will still be a nice addition to the student’s resume.</p>
<p>My DDs have had friends who did a study abroad program through a school other than their home university. This is less a big deal than it sounds, often the guaranteed transfer units only go toward total units, not toward actual requirements, especially in the major.</p>
<p>There are both summer and school year programs through all sorts of schools which would allow a program, possibly at a lower fee than paying U of C.</p>
<p>Check the UC (CA) sites for summer options.</p>
<p>Smith usually fills up its own programs with its own students. The programs are VERY rigorous, all classes are conducted in the local language, and all students have to pledge in writing not to use English while enrolled in the program. Not too many students from other schools even qualify to apply. It is NOT a sightseeing program. Students are enrolled both in the college’s own classes, and at the local university (writing all exams and papers in the target language). Musicians play with local music groups; art students work in local studios. Students are housed with local families, including many that speak no English. One has to commit for the entire year. Grades from the program go into a student’s GPA.</p>
<p>They also sponsor some 25-30 other programs. Never heard of anyone being shut out if they met the qualifications, and financial aid follows the student.</p>
<p>Actually, most universities DO require advanced notice to accept credits from domestic universities. The student has to fill out a “transient clearance form” and have it approved prior to enrolling anywhere other than the home institution. There are several reasonable explanations for this, including that the home institution wishes to ensure that the courses offered at the temporary institution are equivalent and of sufficient rigor. Students who study at other institutions have to be certain they can finish their home program on time and that courses are not duplicated.</p>
<p>mini, those Smith programs sound amazing, very challenging and, frankly, they way all study abroad programs should be like.</p>
<p>Basically, my d’s year there, coupled with her undergraduate research prep, wrote her ticket to graduate school.</p>
<p>Smith’s are (I think) the oldest in country, dating back to World War I</p>