Study abroad in undergrad: Prestigious British University vs. foreign language/field work

[Ilikekitties]

I'm just wondering what you guys think would look "better" on a graduate school application: studying abroad at a prestigious British university and taking classes there (ex. University of St. Andrews, Glasgow) or studying in a country where a foreign language is used and field work opportunities are built into the program.

[Ajtz'ihb]

My instinct would absolutely be to go with the latter, unless the particular university you're looking at would allow you to make important connections for the specific work you want to do. But in general I would value directly-relevant experience over prestige any day.

[sarab]

It really depends on what your goals are. Is the language program going to be relevant for your research or interests? Or is the prestigious program going to provide you with the tools needed for your interests? I would recommend not choosing based on prestige but choosing based on how the program can prepare you for grad school and research.

[Ilikekitties]

The 1st option would be to study abroad in Costa Rica on a field-based program. We would design our own research projects on any topic. I am also a Spanish major.

 

The 2nd option would be to study at a British university and take courses. I don't know any specifics, but the school I attend now is very small and I've heard that the courses at most other schools have many students in them. I think that we are limited in what courses we can take as international students.

Edited October 7, 2014 by CostaRita

[Ajtz'ihb]

Go with Costa Rica. Taking courses with a lot of students at a prestigious British university honestly sounds like it would do your educational prospects zero good unless there's a professor there you're particularly keen to work with or an internship/research possibility you know ahead of time you could take advantage of.

 

Now, bear in mind that studying abroad at a major university can be a very positive personal experience, so if you're really keen to get the full "collegiate" experience for your own reasons then I think that's entirely legitimate. But purely from a grad school admissions perspective I think the fieldwork-based semester in Costa Rica sounds more relevant. You can always apply to a large university for grad school!

[Ajtz'ihb]

I'll just add based on my own experience that the value of a prestigious school when applying to graduate programs lies not in its prestige (professors are unimpressed by these things) but in the professional connections you can make with leading researchers. I went to Penn as an undergrad and took classes with some of the leading archaeologists in my field, which I know helped immensely with my applications. But had I gone to Stanford where there's nobody even interested in what I do, I think I would have been at a disadvantage compared to some of my grad school friends who went to small schools and got undergraduate research experience.

 

I also did a fieldwork-heavy study abroad program as an undergrad, and found it to be one of the more exciting, challenging, and rewarding things I've ever done. I also think it helped diversify my background and made me a stronger candidate for both grad school and fellowship applications.

[Ilikekitties]

^ Yes, I'm thinking from a purely grad school admissions perspective.

 

To be blatantly honest, I'd only want to go to the UK because I've always wanted to go there. Just for fun. That's not a legit reason to go! A professor of mine said that I could always apply to British universities for grad school (though I have no idea how/if those are funded).

 

Also, Costa Rica is much cheaper than the UK and I'm on a limited budget.

Edited October 7, 2014 by CostaRita

[Ajtz'ihb]

Sounds like you've got your answer then.

 

(And just like in the US, funding at UK universities varies program-by-program. But it is available!)