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When to participate

When do most students participate?

The majority of Scripps students study away for one semester during their junior year; in fact, on average, 60% of the junior class participates in study abroad or semester internship programs each year. Students are allowed to petition for more than one semester away.  It can be difficult to study away during senior year due to seminar and thesis requirements but if the major department and thesis requirements allow it, students may petition to participate as a first-semester senior. Students who are prepared to plan early may petition to participate as  second-semester sophomores if the program allows for such participation.  Note that priority will be given to those planning to study away as a junior or senior.  If the numbers allow for additional students in the spring, qualified sophomores can be approved to participate. Studying away for the final semester before graduating is strongly discouraged and first-year students and first semester sophomores are not eligible. 

Fall vs. Spring

There are factors that may make one semester more appropriate than the other for some students but most students can easily study away either semester.  Here are some issues to consider when deciding between fall and spring:
  • Thesis timing:  Students have reported finding it more convenient to work with their major advisors when planning for thesis if they are on campus in the spring, especially if planning to conduct research over the summer prior to junior year. 
  • Academic opportunities - Is there a required class or something you have always wanted to take that is only offered in a particular semester in Claremont?  Your best bet may be to plan to be on campus for that semester and study away during the other.  Alternately, some programs are only offered in either fall or spring, or the courses available in each semester may be different so that should be factored into your decision.  
  • Acceptance rates are higher for the fall - Many programs have a set number of spaces available.  The interest in study abroad by students across the US is higher in the spring, so many programs are more competitive for the openings for spring.  Applicants to certain highly competitive programs are less likely to be wait-listed in the fall. Programs with rolling admissions can fill up well before the final application deadline so applying early can help your chances. In the event you are waitlisted or shut out of a program for fall, SAGE can help to identify an alternative, but if you are set on a particular program, you can easily re-apply for spring. If you are waitlisted for a preferred program in the spring, you may miss the opportunity to study away if senior year is not an option for you. 
  • Language preparation - Completing the language pre-requisites in the semester immediately before participation is often expected by some programs. Taking language in an uninterrupted sequence is advisable. Meeting the Scripps requirement for completion of the 44 level in Spanish, French and German often makes fall a preferable time to participate. With programs requiring a fifth semester of language study (aka 100 level or higher), it may be necessary to be on campus in the fall to meet the requirement. However, SAGE participation in the fall or junior year, after taking the first two semesters of Arabic, Chinese, Italian, Japanese, Korean or Russian in sophomore year, may make the most sense. 
  • Summer Internship and fellowship opportunities can be a challenge to arrange if abroad during the spring.  Many internships have required starting dates that occur before the ending dates for many overseas programs, especially if studying at a foreign university.  Requests for alternate exam dates are not considered - if you miss the exam, you fail the course. Additionally, interviews for internships or fellowships typically take place in the spring semester.  While it is possible to interview by zoom from abroad, students who have done so expressed that it can be challenging and awkward to set up because of the time differences. Accessing adequate WiFi in the middle of the night is not always easy and students say they are not at their best if being interviewed at midnight, while also trying not to disturb their roommates or host families. Although rare, some students have had to return to the US for an interview, at their own expense.  
  • Extra-curricular commitments and events on campus - Students involved in division sports may only be able to participate in study away during the off-season. Students who are involved in clubs or organizations on campus may want to be in Claremont for the organization's signature campus event.  Leadership opportunities may have applications in the spring.   
  • Interesting opportunities abroad - Consider the timing of a study away semester to be able to participate in interesting cultural holidays (Divali, Christmas markets, Lunar New Year, Carnival, etc.). Attending events that appeal to your interests (opera season, film festivals, soccer season, etc.) may affect your choice of semester. 
  • Weather - maybe you want to avoid the more extreme climates in certain seasons, or you plan to pursue warm weather or cold weather activities (snow-skiing in winter, snorkling in spring). Arriving in the frigid winter months with early darkness in the northern hemisphere may be a shock for students accustomed to our warm climate and may require the purchase of winter attire. Programs in the southern hemisphere have opposite seasons. If your favorite seasons are spring and summer, you can have two consecutive semesters of those seasons by participating in a US autumn program in Argentina, Australia, Chile, New Zealand or South Africa. 
  • When are your friends going? The most common reason that students select one semester over another is to be away at the same time as their friends.  While students pick the individual program most appropriate for their interests, some find it hard if all their friends are away one semester and they go abroad in a different semester. That means a whole year away from your friends but, on the other hand, absence truly can make the heart grow fonder and great friendships easily survive separation through the many ways to stay connected in the digital age. Plus, you will form new friendships and enlarge your friendship circles while your besties are away.