<p>How important is study abroad to graduate school admissions? While a high GPA and GRE scores be overshadowed by a lack of study abroad if one were trying to get into a top program? What if one traveled on their own, would that make up for the lack of a formal program?</p>
<p>I really need to know, because the more I look it seems all programs are dormitories or home-stays. That wouldn't normally be a problem, but I can't imagine leaving my young children for a whole year (or even 2 months for that matter) just to do study abroad in a formal program. Are my chances at grad school shot?</p>
<p>I didn't say someone was forcing me, I just would have thought that was a major factor in grad school admissions. I figured this would be the place to ask how important it really is. If you don't have a useful comment, at least don't act rude with someone who is just trying to research their options.</p>
<p>Well I guess it was less what you said, and more the way you said it....obviously no one is forcing anyone. No one is even forcing us to go to grad school. The real question is not what is required to apply, but what is going to give you that leg up for a fully funded Ph.D. program at a top school. I could get in with a 2.6 but I'm sure anyone here would tell me it's more likely I'd get in with a 4.0. The same thing here, I just wanted to know not was I going to be forced, but rather how much would it hurt my chances if I elected not to.</p>
<p>I don't think study abroad makes any difference whatsoever for grad school admissions. (Just as long as we are clear that it is traditional graduate school we are talking about, not professional school.)</p>
<p>This really depends on the field that you are intending to go into. Personally, I think study abroad would fall pretty far down the list of admissions's factors (even for IR programs). Work abroad, I imagine, would make more of a difference. </p>
<p>There are loads of ways you can get international experience at home. Check out internships (paid or volunteer) at places like the State Dept, the UN, and with refugee aid groups like the IRC. </p>
<p>I recently got into some strong programs in social welfare and happened to have work abroad experience. While it might have added some depth to my profile as a candidate, I know for certain it had nothing to do with me getting in.</p>
<p>Without knowing your intended field of study, it's kind of impossible to answer your question.</p>
<p>If it is International Relations, or French, or contemporary Hinduism, or History with a specialization in medieval Germany, well, then, study abroad (in the appropriate country) would be a definite plus on graduate applications.</p>
<p>If your intended field of specialization has nothing whatsoever to do with whatever country in which you'd be studying, then I see no point in studying abroad. Let me rephrase that. Of course study abroad is always an enriching experience, but unless it is directly related to one's area of specialization, it makes absolutely no difference in graduate admissions.</p>
<p>Agg, and of course you hit on exactly what it is I'm looking at Medieval and Early Modern Studies with a focus on Germany. I'm not sure if I would be applying to departments in Medieval Studies, History, Art History, or German; but either way it's going to be in that area.</p>
<p>There is one "approved" study abroad program in Germany that would allow my family to come, but we'd all have to live in the dorms (great fun with three young kids), and I'd have to pay room and board X 5 (making it financially unfeasible). If I went with a non-approved program I'd be out of luck on financial aid. Maybe I need to reconsider my goals :-P</p>
<p>Sounds like it isn't worth the hassle for you, as marginal cost of study abroad in your case far outweighs the marginal benefit. I really wouldn't worry about it. As professor x already said, it is not going to make a difference for grad school admissions.</p>
<p>Professor X, do you think that time spent in Germany on my own (ie spending my summers there researching my areas of interest) might off-set it some if I did not do do a formal program?</p>
<p>Well, yes, it could. For your specific field of interest, I would strongly recommend some time in Germany. Given your situation, do it in any way you can. Just my opinion, of course.</p>
<p>You really need to speak to your college's Study Abroad office to inquire about other programs. If they seem limited, push them a bit, and ask about the whole range of possibilities. I know that there are, in actuality, many "approved" (financial aid friendly) two or three week summer programs for students from any university. My university, for example, allows our students to join up with almost any other college's overseas programs, and allows other college's students to join ours. There are just dozens and dozens of programs out there, many of which will be more accommodating to your situation. And do your own research too. Start online, but also look in your library for books on study abroad. You'll be amazed at the panoply of opportunities out there.</p>
<p>I'm pretty much in the same situation as you - adult with spouse, kid, house, job, etc. My field is Classical Archaeology and the possibility of taking off for field school in the summer is exactly zero.</p>
<p>So... it turns out that it is fairly easy to get permission to survey (i.e. measure, photograph, anything non-invasive) in the area of Vesuvius as long as you have a university department address. I developed a project, and will be spending another 2 week "vacation" this spring in the Bay of Naples (wife and son enjoy southern Italy while I sweat at the scavi and sneeze my way through the archives). The university gave me some funding last year (basically my own expenses) and I'm hoping for more this year. </p>
<p>I got university credit for the basic research itself last fall (with a pretty substantial paper of course) and this year I've applied for a "poster session" spot at the annual AIA meeting to formally present the results that will incorporate the follow up I'm doing in May.</p>
<p>I'm certain something similar could be worked up for your field. Even something as simple as a photographic survey of say, civic architecture in a specific region that might have been neglected till now might be very worthwhile, especially if you can hook up with a professor or department in Germany with a similar research interest.</p>
<p>Your prof's and current journals will be the best starting places.</p>
<p>It's difficult to believe that all study abroad programs force participants to live in dorms, etc... If that is there spin, take the pro-active approach, come up with your own living opportunities that are more conducive to you and your fanmily, and fight for it. Perhaps this is easier said than done but that is what I would try to do.</p>
<p>Thank you William, that is EXACTLY the kind of thing I was hoping to do. I'll have to speak with my undergrad advisor when I arrive this fall and see if I can arrange to do one of the independent study classes, followed by a first-hand experience relating to the research. Might give me a little boost on grad admissions and would get me on the way to my honors thesis.....I love it.</p>
<p>Don't wait till fall... you can hit the library for back issues of the journals in your field - they are often bound into full year chunks - and get started on background during the summer.</p>
<p>If you don't have any "good" ideas for a project just read those journals (and books that are collections of conference papers) and watch for phrases like "an area that deserves more attention" or the like. Once you start looking for that sort of thing you'll be amazed at how often it pops up in the literature.</p>
<p>Now the practicalities:</p>
<p>I got my funding (I think) because I came up with a proposal that was:</p>
<p>1) Doable - i.e. VERY limited scope
2) Valuable - I was able to show that a well known researcher had said "Somebody should go and do this..." (i.e. my proposal)</p>
<p>and</p>
<p>3) I showed that I understood what I was doing by including a very full bibliography with the proposal.</p>
<p>When school starts you should go into your meeting with something like:</p>
<p>1) A short (300 words) prospectus describing and justifying the project
2) A longer paper (3 or 4 pages) describing your goal(s), methodology, and the importance of the results to the field. (They don't have to be world shaking, just answer some question that has been publicly asked)
3) The best bibliography you can come up with - this will let you position your project in the field and let your prof. know you're on top of things.
4) A budget, travel plan, etc. - the practical details that will make the project possible (which you might want to keep in your pocket at first)</p>