<p>Can Northwestern students let us know how studying abroad works there....with a trimester system? Thanks!</p>
<p>It’s incredibly incredibly easy, particularly as compared to a semester system. You go for a semester in fall and come back (usually) for winter and spring quarters, or you go for spring semester, which usually means you miss winter AND spring. Or you go for the full year. Really easy. NU has one of the higher study abroad rates as a result.</p>
<p>And if you go in the fall, you can opt for either trimester or semester programs. If you end up selecting a semester program, you’re usually granted the equivalent of 5-6 course credits, i.e. about 1 1/2 trimester’s worth of courses. If you want to save $ and graduate a term or two early this can make that happen more easily.</p>
<p>My son went during the fall of junior year, as did all of his friends who studied abroad. He went on a non-Northwestern semester program, so it cost us a bit more. I think this works out pretty well - you only miss one quarter on campus. Bala, my son did not get extra credit for being on a semester program - he took 4 classes abroad and got 4 course credits (he did get credit for one course in his major and one distribution class).</p>
<p>^I got six credits for my four classes abroad (16 semester credit-hours)</p>
<p>Thanks for the replies…older son went to WashU in St L and did spring semester of his junior year in Paris…we like the second semester/junior year study abroad time frame, so we were curious how that would work with two trimesters typically in the same time frame as the second semester at other schools.</p>
<p>Maybe if you go on NU or NU affiliated or approved semester programs you get the extra course credit? My son’s program wasn’t on the approved list and he had to petition to go there and get credit for each class. He knew in advance that he was getting credit for 4 courses; when he came back to campus he had to submit another petition with the class syllabus to get major and distribution credit. </p>
<p>mtldad, I wondered the same thing as you. My older son did a spring semester abroad from another school. The fall quarter from NU really does work well (it also helps if you are hoping to interview/apply for summer internships in some industries since you are on campus in the winter).</p>
<p>Yes…in a trimester system, it probably does make more sense to do the fall as a junior rather than the spring</p>
<p>Mine was on the approved list, but I had to petition to get major/ distribution credit.</p>
<p>^
as per arbiter, for approved semester fall programs up to 6 course credits routinely granted. suspect your son’s issue, as you point out, was that his program was not on approved list and required special permission to attend. most semester programs are also offered at same tuition as shorter trimester back home.</p>
<p>Which study abroad locations are the most popular at Northwestern? </p>
<p>Also, why is junior year the best to go abroad? Wouldn’t sophomore year be a better choice?</p>
<p>How convenient is it for NU Pre-meds to study abroad?</p>