Info for Returning Study Abroad Students     

• Complete the on-line Study Abroad Evaluation. Remember how useful it was to read through these before you left...or how frustrating it was to only find evaluations from 1992!
  
• Make sure you have requested that an official copy of your study abroad transcript be sent to the Wellesley College Registrar. Credits will be posted once both the transcript and your program evaluation have been received. See below for more information on transferring credit.
  
• If you want courses to count toward major, minor or distribution requirements, complete a Transfer of Credit form (one for each class/requirement). If you are a senior, you may skip this step for major and minor courses if they are listed on your major or minor confirmation form.
  
• Check in with your faculty advisor and class dean to plan courses for your remaining semesters at Wellesley.
  
• Plan to attend the Boston Area Re-Entry Conference in October. The OIS will pay your registration fee! Stay tuned for more information.
   
   
  Transcripts
  Before credit earned abroad can be posted to your Wellesley College transcript, the Registrar's Office must receive an official transcript from your study abroad program or host university. It is your responsibility to make sure that the transcript is sent. If credits have not appeared on your transcript by mid-semester, you should check with the Registrar's Office to see if the transcript has been received. If it has not, you should contact the study abroad program or host university to make sure that there are no problems (a financial hold, for example).
   
  Once the Registrar's Office receives the transcript, it is forwarded to the Office of International Studies, where credits will be allocated. If you have questions about the number or distribution of credits that are posted to your Wellesley transcript, please contact the OIS.
   
  If your major/minor department pre-approved courses for major or minor requirements, or if you had distribution credits approved by the relevant department chair, these should appear on your record. If they do not, you will need to submit copies of documentation to the Registrar's Office.
   
  If you did not have courses pre-approved for major, minor or distribution requirements, you will need to complete a Transfer of Credit Form for each course and each requirement you wish to fulfill. If you are a senior, you may skip this step for major and minor courses if they are listed on your major or minor confirmation form.
   
  Courses you took abroad will appear on your transcript as Transfer Credit. No grades will appear on the transcript or be factored into your GPA. However, graduate schools and employers may ask for the grades you earned abroad, in which case you will need to submit a copy of your program/host university transcript in addition to your official Wellesley transcript. The Registrar is NOT able to release your study abroad transcript to you or to a third party. Make sure you learn how to get additional transcripts from your study abroad semester or year now, and you may do well to request a few extra,which you can keep in sealed envelopes for future use.
   
  Program Evaluations
  Just as the SEQ's are essential for evaluating courses offered on campus, the Study Abroad Evaluation Form is essential for evaluating programs approved for Wellesley credit abroad. Before your transcript is processed, you will need to complete the on-line evaluation form at http://www.wellesley.edu/OIS/evaluation.html. As you know, these are useful tools for students researching study abroad programs, and they are also an important tool for determining which programs will continue to be eligible for Wellesley. We greatly appreciate your help with this.
   
  Cultural Adjustment Issues
  Students tend to think a lot about culture shock before they travel abroad, but not so much about the issues they will face when they return. These are just as real and complex. Please contact the Office of International Studies if you have any questions or concerns. If you're interested in looking at cultural adjustment issues in more detail, log on to "What's Up With Culture?" an on-line cultural training resource for study abroad.
   
  Reconnecting with your Academic Department
  You should make an appointment to meet with your faculty advisor early in the semester to talk about what you did abroad and what remains to be done in your major. Discuss with him/her the ways in which what you did abroad can be best used in your remaining time on campus. Doing a 350/250 is one way that students can pursue academic interests developed abroad while building relationships with Wellesley faculty members.
   
  Be Part of the Tanner Conference
  Many study abroad alumnae decide to do a presentation at Tanner showcasing their experience abroad. This is a good way for you to reflect upon your time away and to "repackage" it for an audience of your peers. It is also a great way to help first and second year students learn about study abroad opportunities. For more information, contact the CWS.
   
  Be a Regular at OIS Events
  The OIS is sponsoring a number of events during the course of the semester for returning and prospective study abroad students. Take a look at the calendar. We'd love to have you be a part of our on-going activities.
   
  Come in for a chat
  I'd love to hear your stories, your impressions of your program, and any advice it might be useful to pass along to future travelers. Tell me how you think Wellesley can better prepare students for their time abroad and better service them while they are away. Stop in during open office hours or e-mail jthomass@wellesley.edu to make an appointment.
   
  Think about Fellowships for Graduate Study
  Check the CWS website to find out about graduate fellowships. Attend the BASAA Re-Entry Conference, held every October, to get more ideas. The OIS will pay for your registration fee!
   
  Marketing your International Experience
  Prospective employers and graduate schools want to know about your semester or year abroad. Think about how you might highlight your international experience in your resume and in interview settings. Plan to attend the CWS/OIS workshops on this topic.