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01-27-2007, 12:20 PM
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#1 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Duke
Threads: 114
Posts: 5,702
| Study Abroad vs. Graduating Early
I'm almost done with my major and only have my honors thesis and two courses left (the pre-reqs, oddly enough). Since I'm only a sophomore, that leaves me a lot more room in my schedule than I know what to do with. After thinking it over, I decided that I'd rather study abroad or graduate a year early than stay here for two more years taking mostly unrelated classes.
The problem is deciding between them, and I don't have much time to decide (deadlines are passing). The study abroad program would cover many of the courses I'd be taking my first year of grad school. Since they're not offered at very many places, this would give me a leg up on the other applicants. On the other hand, I'd rather move on to graduate school if I'm prepared, especially since I have a pretty good idea of where I want to go. The drawback is that I'm scared to death I'd get rejected. 
Any advice? I currently have a 3.66 GPA in my major (with 3 courses pending this semester) and some research experience.
Last edited by warblersrule86 : 01-27-2007 at 12:26 PM.
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01-27-2007, 06:31 PM
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#2 | | Junior Member
Join Date: Nov 2006
Threads: 13
Posts: 102
| I would HIGHLY suggest studying abroad....you won't regret it and since you have so much time on your hands, you could probably go to more than one place to spice up your CV a little. | |
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01-27-2007, 07:30 PM
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#3 | | Super Moderator
Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Cambridge, MA
Threads: 56
Posts: 5,511
| I would also study abroad.
I think it's a good idea for most people to take some time to do something they like at some point between undergrad and grad school. To many straight-from-undergrad candidates approach grad school like another year of undergrad, which it most certainly is not; the students who took a year or two off between undergrad and grad school to do something they enjoyed seem to be facing burnout issues at a much lower rate than those who came straight from undergrad.
I went straight from undergrad to grad school, and at the time I refused to consider the possibility of taking a year off. After a semester of grad school (which is very enjoyable, but still grad school), I am encouraging my fiance to consider taking a year or two to work at a really cool company. | |
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01-27-2007, 07:46 PM
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#4 | | Member
Join Date: May 2006
Threads: 24
Posts: 902
| definitely study abroad! This gives you more time to work on your grad school applications, take advanced courses while you're over there, and is an amazing experience. I didn't study abroad in undergrad and can't tell you how much I regret it. Everyone I know who went abroad had a blast and wouldn't have given it up for the world. Let yourself have a semester or a year of fun before buckling down to grad school. | |
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01-27-2007, 07:59 PM
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#5 | | Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: TSRI
Threads: 2
Posts: 170
| i would suggest study abroad as well. unless you have financial constraint, i don't see why you should graduate early. i wish i could study abroad but i always missed the chance because i was tighted up in lab. graduate schools are always there, but the opportunity to study abroad as an undergrad probably not gonna be there for long. | |
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01-28-2007, 02:55 AM
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#6 | | Super Moderator
Join Date: Apr 2005
Threads: 219
Posts: 10,304
| Unless money is an issue, go abroad. This one's an easy call. | |
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01-28-2007, 07:20 PM
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#7 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Winston-Salem, NC
Threads: 132
Posts: 1,965
| Study abroad warblers  | |
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01-28-2007, 07:21 PM
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#8 | | Senior Member
Join Date: May 2006 Location: Wesleyan
Threads: 253
Posts: 6,945
| I cannot imagine going to college without studying abroad. There are so many great places to go. Don't miss out! | |
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01-28-2007, 07:52 PM
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#9 | | Junior Member
Join Date: Sep 2006
Threads: 12
Posts: 79
| one of the best thing I did while I was in college
go study abroad!
it really opens up your eyes, not to mention its a blast as well | |
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01-28-2007, 08:01 PM
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#10 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Duke
Threads: 114
Posts: 5,702
| I guess it's unanimous! Thanks, guys. | |
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01-29-2007, 02:27 AM
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#11 | | Junior Member
Join Date: Sep 2006
Threads: 25
Posts: 222
| how many of us here have done a study-abroad?
i'll start. my 2nd year of undergrad was spent in Taiwan | |
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01-29-2007, 09:02 AM
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#12 | | Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2007
Threads: 2
Posts: 61
| I spent the summer before my junior year studying in Israel and the whole of my junior year studying in Madrid. | |
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01-29-2007, 10:59 AM
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#13 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2004
Threads: 263
Posts: 5,411
| Another vote for study abroad.
N.B., my D is currently early in a semester abroad program and waiting for some of the other participant to move beyond the "wow, we're legal to drink here and can get blasted every night" phase. | |
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01-29-2007, 01:17 PM
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#14 | | Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2007
Threads: 3
Posts: 105
| Got to Study Abroad! Spent a semester in Florence and it was one of the best experiences of my life so far. | |
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01-29-2007, 01:21 PM
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#15 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2004
Threads: 109
Posts: 1,455
| Junior Year in Edinburgh, Scotland--one of the best years of my life. But the OP could graduate from college and then do a semester abroad--if he/she is already admitted to grad school, he could ask to be deferred one semester and take some relevant courses abroad. This could be cheaper because many US colleges demand that you pay them tuition while you are away and they pay your (lower) overseas fees.
It's worth getting some opinions from profs in your intended grad school field. | |
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