#SAFONLOCATION
SAF Scholars
  • Welcome
    • Global Citizen of the Year
    • Summer & Fall 2019 Photo Contest
    • Connect
    • Our Staff
    • Contact Us
  • Support
  • Student Blog
    • Become an SAF Correspondent
  • Campus Visits
    • 2019 >
      • University of Wisconsin - Madison
      • UCLA

5 Ways to Leverage Your Study Abroad Experience for Graduate School

9/19/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
A whopping 47 percent of our students surveyed from SAF China said their primary reason for attending summer sessions is as preparation for graduate study abroad. We don't have to tell you that as a visting student gaining admission to Western graduate schools, especially programs in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math), is growing increasingly competitive. Here are our tips for gaining an edge.

​1. Strategically Advance Your Academic Experiences

Pursue specific academic enrichment opportunities that support your future goals. Participate in lab classes, group work and volunteer for extracurricular projects related to your desired field of study.

2. Improve Your Language Skills

Participate in class discussions, seize opportunities to lead presentations, join a student club related to public speaking, leadership or debating, and improve your writing skills through peer or professional tutoring at the university's writing center. 

​3.  Make New Friends

A university campus is a wellspring of informal mentors. Reach out to fellows in your classes, talk with professors during their office hours and do your best to make lasting friendships with students from around the world. There's no telling how these relationships may help you. 

4.  Dive Into Local Culture 

While it's comfortable to talk with the friends you have and eat the food you know, these habits will not expand your understanding of the local (and campus) culture. If you plan to further your education in the West, make an effort to experience life as a local through food, activities and new friendships. This will help you explain why a university's community is perfect for you in graduate school applications. 

5. Be Recommendation Worthy

Professors have less time to get to know visiting students than full-time students and thus may be reluctant to write recommendation letters over summer sessions and short-term study. Don't take it personally, and don't push it. Throughout your education abroad (especially when you think no one's watching) demonstrate an interest in your courses by:
  • Thinking critically about course readings and expressing your ideas in class
  • Having exemplary class and lecture hall attendance
  • Routinely visiting your professors during office hours to discuss coursework, questions from the reading, your related research interest or news about experts in the field.
If these efforts don't help you secure a recommendation letter, at the very least they will help you expand your knowledge and experience for graduate school applications.

For more information on our programs, email info@studyabroadfoundation.org

​
by Erika Woodward

​

0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    AuthorS

    SAF Scholars and Alumni

    Categories

    All
    Advice
    Profiles
    SAF Correspondents
    Videos

    Archives

    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    February 2019
    November 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    July 2016
    March 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    September 2014

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly
Photos used under Creative Commons from gliak00, NazarethCollege