Author: Clark Scally
The International Programs Office announced changes to the Study Abroad application process on Nov. 3. The most noteworthy of these changes is the new “preferred” deadline, which allows students planning to study abroad in the spring semester of 2013 to submit their applications on Feb. 6, 2012.
In the past, students applying to study abroad in the spring of their junior year were required to wait until the fall of that same academic year to apply.
“Before, students would ask me, ‘Why did you make me wait until September to apply?'” Executive Director of the International Programs Office (IPO) Robin Craggs said.
There have also been revisions of the application itself. These changes come in interest of making the application process both more concise and comprehensive at the same time.
“We felt that [the old application] was very repetitive and the answers we got were very repetitive,” Craggs said. The new policy will be easier to evaluate.
There used to be two parts of the application, a section for personal and academic goals as well as an academic essay. The academic essay was a 1,000 to 1,500 word well-researched essay that would allow students to demonstrate a deeper knowledge of cultural and historical details. Now, there is no academic essay.
“What we’ve done is write three new questions,” Craggs said.
The questions ask you to explore the country and its culture, how this specific study abroad program fits into your larger academic plan and how the program will contribute to your growth as an individual. Each of the questions merits a response of no more than 300 words and requires some outside research.
“With 300 words, we can get a much more concise snapshot of why spending a semester abroad is more important to you than spending a semester at Oxy,” Craggs said. “The reason for studying abroad doesn’t have to be your career but for a lot of students it is.”
This article has been archived, for more requests please contact us via the support system.
