<p>Any experiences with study abroad?</p>
<p>Not me, personally, but I have had a lot of friends who have done one (even two) quarters abroad. They've all had a blast.</p>
<p>More information than I can give:
<a href="http://study-abroad.uchicago.edu/%5B/url%5D">http://study-abroad.uchicago.edu/</a></p>
<p>Looks like amazing opportunities.</p>
<p>is it just me or does the university just not push the study abroad option?</p>
<p>I think some schools push study abroad so far as to require it (eg. Goucher) or to make it sound like you're missing out on something absolutely phenomenal and are making a dumb decision if you don't study abroad.</p>
<p>The university definitely has programs, and a good number of students want to do them, but I think its overall attitude of "We'll suggest it, but we're not going to super-encourage it," is a good one, because study abroad is not right for everybody.</p>
<p>I think the university does not push it for three reasons:</p>
<p>First, its propriety programs are chronically oversubscribed - particularly the civilization sequences - and hence they dont want to create the sentiment that study abroad is dangled out in front of students and then not made available. In my first year study abroad still had very aggressive GPA cutoffs to triage spots, and many students who had planned for it suddenly had to readjust their graduation plans after seeing their grades slip. </p>
<p>Second, Chicago does not accept credit from many study aboard programs that are not its own. As far as direct enrollment goes, they pretty much expect you will be somewhere that has the same heft at Chicago itself, which boils things down to LSE, Cambridge, Oxford, the Grande Ecoles, the Sorbonne affiliates, and a few schools in Asia (obvious upside: Chicago can get you to these places). Likewise, programs in countries managed by American institutions seem only to fly if done by an Ivyesque counterpart (my roommate found out a program through Boston University would not cut it since it would lack in rigor, and shelled out a few thousand more for Stanford instead). </p>
<p>Third, the quarter system is problematic in this narrow respect. A lot of study abroad programs cater to semester systems, meaning a UChicago student must either cut their summer internship off prematurely or give up winter and spring terms at Chicago to attend.</p>
<p>I think the lack of rigor is probably a significant concern to the University, and to be honest, I don't totally blame them for that one. Though I do want to travel the world, I don't want to do it when I'm paying thousands of dollars to go to the beach and be part of a less academically rigorous setting. My tuition money isn't worth that to me. That's basically the primary reason why study abroad doesn't interest me.</p>
<p>Secondly, I want the freedom of choosing and changing my schedule, as well as continue my on-campus involvements.</p>
<p>Any idea what percentage go abroad?
Is it possible to do an entire year?</p>
<p>"In my first year study abroad still had very aggressive GPA cutoffs to triage spots, and many students who had planned for it suddenly had to readjust their graduation plans after seeing their grades slip. "</p>
<p>what does a "very aggressive GPA cutoff" mean? and how large/small of a grade slip required you to change your graduation plans?</p>
<p>No idea what percentage, but most (if not all) of my friends who applied to study abroad not only got a program, but got their first choices. Some programs are harder to get into than others.</p>
<p>I believe there are some full-year options, but not that many.</p>
<p>They have expanded the programs a lot, so it does not seem to be a big deal anymore. But originally if you were not on Dean's List, you were unlikely to get say Civ in Paris (arguably the most sought after foreign Civ). Now you are pretty much guaranteed something in Paris if you speak a modicum of French or have a major that ties to the region, although not one particular program per se. </p>
<p>Honestly, though, I am not a huge fan of for credit, content type courses abroad (save for yearlong programs at places like Oxford or LSE). I think students overpay for the quality given, and oftentimes are disappointed at the constant tension between trying to get away and also having to do so much work. I would much rather just take a sabbatical to do a foreign language work and support myself by teaching English on the side, or say work on my BA thesis independently somewhere.</p>
<p>Is it true that you cannot make Dean's List the year you study abroad?</p>
<p>You can make Dean's List if the courses are from the U of C directly. But if you go through some affiliated program, than you are unlikely to aquire the 9 courses needed to be in consideration. </p>
<p>However, if you make Dean's List for the other three years you are eligible to do so, it is fine to put "Dean's List" or "Dean's List all terms" on your resume.</p>
<p>has anyone done the trinity college, Cambridge program? Can you pick any subject you want, or do you have to study certain subjects?</p>