<p>Any feedback about study abroad programs? Thanks so much.</p>
<p>Bumping this because I’m interested too.
It seems that most of the courses in non-English speaking countries require that we be majors in that language. Is it possible for us to have just taken some language courses and not a major or minor to go?</p>
<p>I’m pretty sure you only need 2 or 3 semesters of that language for most of them, you don’t have to be a major.</p>
<p>War Chant is right - there are plenty of programs that require only a semester or two of language, and plenty that have no language requirement at all (courses taught in English). Here [Programs</a> by Major > USC College of Letters, Arts & Sciences](<a href=“http://college.usc.edu/programs-by-major/]Programs”>http://college.usc.edu/programs-by-major/) the programs are organized by major - the programs listed work particularly well with the department(s) they are listed under, but you are free to choose a program not listed with your major. Only a very few programs are restricted to certain majors.</p>
<p>USC grants, scholarships, and federal loans and grants are applicable to the study abroad programs approved through the Office of Overseas Studies [Study</a> Abroad Financial Aid > USC College of Letters, Arts & Sciences](<a href=“http://college.usc.edu/study-abroad-financial-aid/]Study”>http://college.usc.edu/study-abroad-financial-aid/) .</p>
<p>I would love to hear feedback from parents and/or students who went on USC study abroad–which programs did you enjoy, was it worth it, etc. My son wants to go for a full year study abroad and would like to hear from others about it.</p>
<p>If anyone has feedback on the study abroad experience in Japan, I’d love to hear it. There are three programs–
Tokyo, Japan - Waseda University
Tokyo, Japan - Sophia University
Tokyo, Japan - Tokyo International University</p>
<p>Any suggestions? Comments? ??</p>
<p>One thing we were told is to tell your academic counselor/advisor right off the bat — at freshman orientation, or whenever you first meet with them, that you hope/plan to study abroad. If you have a major with a full load, you need to start planning as a freshman how you can do and still graduate in 4 years.</p>
<p>I studied abroad in London, at Queen Mary University spring semester of my sophomore year. I had an amazing time! I didn’t have much difficulty planning my schedule around studying abroad, despite being a Bio Pre-Med at the time. In fact, I changed my major to English after studying abroad and was still able to graduate in four years. USC has a really awesome program. They take good care of you, and have tons of really cool options. Have your student stop by the study abroad office (in a house between the University Church and the Religious Center), or attend the study abroad fair, which occurs in the first month or two of each semester. Alumni of each program attend the fair, so you can ask specific questions about each program there. If you want to study abroad, you will need professor’s recommendations, so make sure to begin having good relationships with professors right away. I had an incredible time abroad- if you have any questions about the process, feel free to ask.</p>
<p>Nikara, is there a reason that the programs in England are around 10,000$ more than the others? I’m definitely more interested in those, and I’m trying to figure out why. Is it because English schools’ tuiton in general is more expensive?</p>
<p>The England programs have equal tuition to USC. This is partly because British schools are somewhat more expensive, and partly because USC has a special program for students at those school. There is a USC representative in England for USC students, who organizes outings and helps out if any problems come up. Those outings are also covered by the fee. Remember that any scholarships or financial aid that you get from USC also proportionally cover your time abroad. If you are looking for a less expensive English speaking program, look at New Zealand.</p>
<p>Do you know anything about New Zealand or Australia study abroad? Thanks so much.</p>
<p>Anyone have information/feedback on Australia programs? I plan to study either at Australian National University or Univ. of Melbourne through Marshall.</p>
<p>I noticed that some of the UK programs, such as Edinburgh, have a cap of how many semester units we can get. If I’m a Presidential Scholar and it requires that I have 16 units (full-time), would I still be able to use the scholarship for tuition?</p>
<p>The Trustee and Presidential scholarships and financial aid require “full-time” status, which is defined as 12 units, so the 15 unit maximum of some of the study abroad programs is fine.
[USC</a> Undergraduate Admission - FAQs](<a href=“http://www.usc.edu/admission/undergraduate/faq/academics.html]USC”>http://www.usc.edu/admission/undergraduate/faq/academics.html)</p>
<p>*To make good progress toward your degree, students should take 16 to 18 units per semester while at USC.</p>
<p>[USC:</a> Trustee & Presidential Scholars](<a href=“http://www.usc.edu/student-affairs/arp//renewal.htm]USC:”>http://www.usc.edu/student-affairs/arp//renewal.htm)</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>If you take 12 units one semester, you should make it up by taking 20 units the second semester.</p>
<p>The scholarship committee is fine with the 15 units in some programs- as long as you are taking as many as you can, you will be fine. I would recommend taking a PE class or something in the other semester, but it still will work out. They want students to study abroad.</p>
<p>I remember seeing something last year about the study abroad program offered by Viterbi. It may have been the summer program but I was under the impression that the classes could not count toward your major requirements. I may be wrong.</p>
<p>It all depends on the school. I’m only an expert in the College’s study abroad program. For them, courses can definitely count for major credit (most of mine transferred in as upper division electives in English and Biology). All of the courses I took abroad went toward my degree. However, all of the other schools have other methods for their study abroad programs. Look around the school’s websites for more information.</p>
<p>Futureholds: Viterbi has study abroad programs. The international university of choice depends upon your child’s major. Some possibilities are in Hong Kong, Singapore, New Zealand, Australia, S. Africa and England. Look at study abroad Viterbi on the USC web site. My particular concern is that I want my son’s courses in study abroad to transfer as equivalent credit. Be sure to talk to both study abroad and your son’s advisor. There is also study abroad in the summer. Unless your child needs elective units of credits, make sure that the courses are equivalent courses (not just elective credits). My son entered with 32 AP credits and does not need more units. He needs equivalent course credit. Please PM me if you find out anything of particular interest in study abroad. Thanks.</p>