2018-19

We asked Andrea Muilenburg, Director of Study Abroad Program, to share with us some insights into applying to the Study Abroad Program. Read her answers below.

What are some of the important points for students to be aware of?
Remember the deadlines! The applications for students interested in studying abroad during the next academic year (Fall, Winter or Spring quarter) are due on Saturday, December 15th. Next summer’s deadline is January 15, 2019. Deadlines are very strict, as the application process is very competitive.

We are recommending that students submit their applications by noon, on Friday, December 14th to ensure that all materials are received and completed on time as our office closes at 5 p.m. on December 14th. We will not be in office on Saturday, so if there are any technical glitches, we will not be able to help.

After submitting their applications, student should receive a notice that says: “Thank you for submitting an application to SCU Study Abroad. If further information is needed, the application committee will reach out to you. If you have any questions about your application, please contact studyabroad@scu.edu. It will then list the date and time the application is submitted.” Study Abroad Program will re-confirm by sending an email on Monday, December 17th. On February 15, 2019 is when students will be notified if they have been nominated to the program they applied to, for both deadlines.

Cap for each program is 30 students. Programs in Western Europe have been the most competitive programs over the last few years. The overall study abroad process is very competitive. Last year we received over 425 applications and we have capacity to send around 330 students so when we review applications we look for applicants that took time and effort to fill out the application. The applications are read by multiple readers, the scores are averaged and we rank them and that’s how we nominate the students until we run out of space in the program. If you have questions, email studyabroad@scu.edu.   

Study Abroad Program Drop-In Hours are: Monday and Tuesday, 10am -noon. Wednesday and Thursday are  2pm -4pm, first-come-first-served basis.

What are the tips to navigate the course database? If the course has not been approved for the Study Abroad program, how do you petition to get the course approved?
There are a few things students should think about when considering what program to apply to. First is looking at the specific program  and what courses are being offered during the term they are planning to go abroad.

Our searchable database (https://www.scu.edu/globalengagement/study-abroad/explore/search-programs/) provides - a quick snapshot on what the program requirements are (minimum GPA, language requirements, etc.) and links to the actual program pages that include information on the classes being offered, housing options, etc. Through the program specific pages students should be able to figure out the academic structure of the program(if there are required program classes, number of classes they need to take on the program,  when the courses are being offered and what language are the classes in. Students can search the database by many factors, including major, country, cost level, etc.

The course equivalent database (https://www.scu.edu/globalengagement/study-abroad/explore/equivalency-database/) -provides and overview  on how credits and units convert, any constraint on specific majors, for example marketing students can only take one marketing class while they are abroad, etc.. Below the academic information, the database has a list of courses that have been taken by SCU past participants and have been approved or not approved. The students have to toggle back and forth between the program page and the database to make sure the courses they are interested in taking are offered during the time they are going abroad.

If there is a course the students want to take, but the course does not appear in the database, the students have to request that the course be evaluated at SCU. The process is outlined here: https://www.scu.edu/globalengagement/study-abroad/explore/course-evaluations/

The students should email the director of core or the chair of the academic department (use the template provided) and attach a syllabus. Please note that economics classes should be sent to  Professor John Ifcher jifcher@scu.edu and marketing course evaluations should be sent to Professor Munson mmunson@scu.edu instead of the Department Chairs. Normally, the responses take 2 to 3 days but as more and more requests come in it can take the departments longer to respond.  Responses can come in few different ways (yes – the course is equivalent, no – the course is not equivalent, not the LSB course that was requested, but satisfies another LSB course).

Do not make assumptions, check with the Global Engagement Office, and get the courses approved now, before you are abroad, less stressful. There are over 50 more classes that have not yet been added to the database that we are working on getting added when we have time. The Academic Planning form will help with planning ahead and needs to be signed by the academic advisor, as part of the application process.

What do you look for in the essays?
https://www.scu.edu/media/offices/global-engagement/study-abroad/application-amp-rubric/SCU-Study-Abroad-Rubric---2018-student-1.pdf - review the rubric on this page and read the two pages of tips, very helpful resource. This will help to understand how we score the application and what we are evaluating in the application.    

We are not able to  provide feedback nor edit application essays; we refer students to the Hub Writing Center and, suggest that the students ask their family and friends to read the essays, provide them the rubric to refer to.

What do business students need to know?
For business students, we look for number of classes they can apply for their major or minor, so if they have a minor, the courses could apply towards both or the minor. We also count classes for business core as major classes.

Generally speaking the program will require for students to take 5 classes, most are semester programs. For non-English speaking programs, the language counts as one out of five courses. A strong academically aligned program would have 2-3 courses towards major and minor or business core and one towards general SCU core requirements.

Are there programs that offer internships for business students?
There are over 45 programs that offer internships.  Many are business, but a lot of the internships are in communications and political science. Few have a mandatory internship. The students can find information about internships under the courses listed for the program; they are all academic internships and will have a seminar included.  If the student is interested in the internship, the student should pick the internship course as one of the five classes.

What support is offered through the Global Engagement Office for the applicants?
We have returned students that help with questions. On our website we have a list of students:  https://www.scu.edu/globalengagement/study-abroad/explore/contact-returned-students/ (have to log in) where students can email returned students to meet with them and get their questions answered.