Apply abroad directly or through US school? (showing/hiding grades, AMCAS)

[Verloren]

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[J ROD]

I would not count the grades from down under....I would take them and pass and enjoy my time there...🙂

 

[Catalystik]

It's been posted on SDN that study abroad grades destroyed someone's application GPA because they didn't understand foreign grading practices. Don't take the chance.

 

[drbenmd]

Go with Butler ISA. Grades aside, this will make transferring credits to your home institution MUCH easier. If you've heard that confusion over grading practices can hurt your GPA, then consider yourself forewarned, and take the time to understand the grading policies. Med schools know what study-abroad is all about, and the host institutions that Butler uses generally understand what JYA students are really looking for. Academic rigor and adventure are definitely not mutually-exclusive.

In my eyes, a much bigger issue is the value added to the JYA experience by Butler ISA. If something goes wrong (and yes, things do go wrong occasionally), Butler has the expertise and infrastructure to make things right. I studied in the UK with Butler, and they offered great support and many fun opportunities throughout the program. They also make the transfer of credits and the supply of transcripts very simple, neither of which would have been easy if I had enrolled directly in my host university.

 

[J ROD]

Just stay in the US and take some classes here and travel later...

 

[flip26]

Maybe I am not understanding your question, but in any case, you can't hide your grades, or your transcript, or your attendance at a foreign school, from AMCAS unless you intend to lie about it. Do you intend to hide this attendance from your degree granting college? How are you going to pay for this semester abroad? With student loans? There will be a record of this...and the courses will appear on your home college transcript, right?

Furthermore, when you get accepted to med school, you will be asked to forward transcripts from all schools ever attended, including transcripts directly from the schools abroad (and not just the US sponsoring institution). I know this for a fact because I attended a study abroad program offered through another US college, and for AMCAS I only had to provide the sponsoring US college transcript, but for the med schools where I have been accepted I have been told to have actual transcripts from the foreign college sent to them.

I suggest you download the longish AMCAS PDF on how to fill out the AMCAS and decide for yourself what you must report.

 

[Verloren]

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[Bernoull]

Ok...I guess "hiding" grades from AMCAS wasn't the best way to put it. Basically I am stuck between applying through an American school, which will give me an Australian transcript and a US transcript. I will have to enter the US transcript grades into AMCAS.

So if I do well, great--it will boost my GPA. If not, it will ruin my GPA. My advisors keep telling me my grade will most likely be boosted, and so I should go with the Butler application. But most SDN posters so far and my sister suggest...

...to apply directly. So there will only be an Australian transcript, and if I do badly, the grades won't matter (unless I failed). But if I do well, then, boo. That's why I've been stuck.

Why is study abroad that important to you? You don't seem confident about ur ability to perform abroad so why the RISK and undue complication?

Personally I won't complicate my application unneccessarily. It take my courses here, ace them then treat myself to a vacation later.. Keep it simple..

 

[flip26]

Ok...I guess "hiding" grades from AMCAS wasn't the best way to put it. Basically I am stuck between applying through an American school, which will give me an Australian transcript and a US transcript. I will have to enter the US transcript grades into AMCAS.

So if I do well, great--it will boost my GPA. If not, it will ruin my GPA. My advisors keep telling me my grade will most likely be boosted, and so I should go with the Butler application. But most SDN posters so far and my sister suggest...

...to apply directly. So there will only be an Australian transcript, and if I do badly, the grades won't matter (unless I failed). But if I do well, then, boo. That's why I've been stuck.

The grades "matter" no matter what your sister thinks. And I think you are misreading the advice on this thread - people are suggesting that you not go abroad at all if you are so concerned about grades. And as others suggest, forget the study abroad, go on an extended trip instead - maybe do some volunteer stuff abroad - it is possible to have a rich experience abroad without being attached to college classes, you know.

It sounds to me like you are looking for the golden loophole that will allow you to go abroad, kick back, and not worry about getting bad grades. Those grades will come up eventually, and you will have to answer for them.

If you attend the Australian school, no matter how you enroll there, you must disclose it on AMCAS. You will not be able to hide your grades. And as I pointed out before, upon acceptance at med school(s), you will be asked to forward transcripts from every college attended, even colleges abroad where you applied directly and not through a US college affiliated study abroad program...do you really want to "hide" the grades only to find out that you have to reveal them post acceptance?

 

[Verloren]

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[Practitioner]

Thanks for posting this thread!

I started my undergrad abroad and initially AMCAS didn't include my courses abroad into the gpa calculation. Then I made a phone call and sent them an e-mail and explained the credits were through an accredited US school and that it was listed on my transcript as such.

They then applied the grades to my undergrad gpa, which pulled down my BCPM about 0.4 and cgpa by 0.2! It never occurred to me to just leave it as they do it automatically. Maybe next time I will...

 

[Bernoull]

Thanks again for the responses!

I know the medical schools will see my transcripts no matter what. What I have been meaning by "bad grades" is grades that will lower my current gpa, which are like B's. I don't think I'll do terribly abroad, but I don't want to spend a semester with a cloud over my head, worrying about getting all A's.

To answer a recurring question: The reason I want to study abroad is so that I can explore a new city, gain independence, and learn a lot about myself and Australia. I neither have the time nor money for a vacation, and I feel like a vacation would involve more sight-seeing than immersion.

What I've gleaned from the comments is that I should apply directly. YES I know medical schools will still see my Australian grades, but at least these grades won't be entered into my GPA. What my sister meant is that the medical schools will still see my grades, but if I get B's, they will be more understanding--but at least the GPA won't be lowered. Each Australian class translated to 4 US credits, after all.

If I do get all A's, then that's too bad for my GPA but at least the med schools will see still it and hopefully take it into account. I suppose that's better than getting B's abroad and hurting my GPA if I apply through the American school.

To defend myself 🙂D) I wouldn't say I lack the confidence to study abroad. I go to a school renowned for competition, especially among pre-meds, and I have an ok gpa. My advisors keep telling me my GPA will go up at the Australian school. But the academic system over there is so different and I don't intend on spending all my time over there studying in my room. I think the potential downfall is so much more frightening than the potential benefit is attractive, since my gpa would only rise by 0.03 with four A's, but it would fall by 0.2 with four B's.

Sorry if my post is frustrating/confusing/stupid, but this experience is important to me and I want it to go well. I think I was looking for a golden loop (aren't they always so much better?), but if there isn't one, I'll make do 🙂

It looks like ur heart is set on da study abroad and u assessed the upside n downside to doing it . Follow ur heart... and goodluck.