Caution advised in choosing study abroad courses
August 31Studying in the shadow of Big Ben, eating authentic dim sum in a quaint Chinese restaurant, sipping espresso in a French caf?© - these are just some of the things Jumbos can incorporate into their collegiate experience. Tufts, which prides itself as an international institution, strongly encourages undergraduates to take a step off the Hill in search of educational experiences abroad. Information about studying abroad can be obtained throughout the year from any of the weekly information sessions conducted by Julie Cacioppio, Program and Marketing Coordinator for Programs Abroad. Students seriously interested in studying abroad must attend one of the sessions and fill out a study abroad interest form, which will keep them up to date about upcoming meetings. Cacioppio feels that the sessions are helpful. "[The sessions] give students a lot of information on the differences between Tufts and non-Tufts programs and how to apply to each," she said. Cacioppio estimates that about 40 percent of the junior class goes abroad each year, with 154 students from the 2000-2001 class going to a Tufts program and 304 going to a non-Tufts program. However, students cannot just pick up and go. They must first take steps to ensure that they will not fall behind academically when they return to the Medford campus. Transferring credits from programs abroad - especially non-Tufts programs - requires students to plan their academic future extensively. Students who attend a Tufts program automatically have their credits and grades transferred and maintained in their records, as if they had never left campus. Junior Ilia Reboredo, currently abroad in Tufts-in-London, says she was influenced by the ease of transferring Tufts program credits. "We were made aware that the credits- and the grades - would transfer automatically to the Tufts records," Reboredo said. According to the Tufts programs abroad brochure, it is left to individual departments to decide if credits will count toward a student's major. Students advised to consult their respective departments for information about which courses abroad will count. Typically, students are able to earn about four Tufts course credits during one semester abroad, which is equivalent to the average semester load earned on the Tufts campus. Students that choose to study with a non-Tufts program, however, must do a little more legwork. Senior Jennifer Turnbull, who studied in Madrid last year, was concerned that she wouldn't get full credit for her time in Spain. "I was stressed about my credits transferring," Turnbull said. But not all students find the process trying. Senior Sarah Friedman, who studied in Florence last spring, found the process "really simple, no problem." Programs that fit into the non-Tufts category are listed in a separate non-Tufts programs brochure, which can obtained in Dowling Hall. Students who attend these programs should make every effort to get their courses approved by the appropriate departments before departure, Cacioppio said. Pre-approval involves obtaining the necessary signatures on a transfer of credit form, also available from Dowling Hall. But early approval is often not possible due to course changes or the late arrival of course descriptions. When course enrollments become finalized, students need to fax all relevant course documents and the credit transfer form to the appropriate department signatories (the list of signatories can be found at ase.tufts.edu/studyabroad). And at the end of the semester a final transcript, translated if necessary, needs to be sent to the Student Services Desk as well. Cacioppio advises that students keep an accurate record of all course materials, including descriptions and syllabi. When searching for courses to take abroad, Associate Dean of Programs Abroad Sheila Bayne recommends that students use caution in choosing their classes. "It's best if students don't go to far afield from courses that are offered at Tufts," Bayne said. Since courses must be individually approved by each department, it is important that students avoid taking courses that do not have a close equivalent at Tufts. "Students need to talk to their advisor, especially their major advisor," Cacioppio said. Friedman, who received course approval after she returned from Italy, said that she did not encounter difficulty with the credit transfer process because she chose "classes that weren't so out of the curriculum." Certain students, especially engineers, experience difficulty with the issue of transferring credits from abroad. Veronica Chouinard was unable to go abroad because of the rigidity of the courses required for mechanical engineering. "Engineers have certain constraints," Chouinard explained. "It's hard to study abroad with a bio-major," said Angel Vail, a Senior who was also unable to study abroad because of major constraints. Some sophomore engineers who want go abroad next year have also been discouraged by the difficulty of obtaining enough engineering credits overseas. Amanda Scheinfieldt, a sophomore electrical engineering student, was one of these disenchanted students. "I was very disappointed when one of the deans told me it was not really an option at all for me," Scheinfieldt said. Many engineers, steered away from studying abroad during the school year because of credit transfer issues, choose to study at Talliores during their summer vacation. It's a way to go abroad without falling behind academically. Some think it can be done though, even with the strict engineering requirements. Foreign Study Advisor for Non-Tufts Programs Sally Kavolus O'Leary feels that it is "not problematic" for engineers to go abroad, but added that they may find it easier to go to English speaking countries.
