Some Students Find Themselves Venturing Into the Unknown Even Before They...

At many colleges, a year spent studying abroad is well-integrated into the curriculum as a significant part of the college experience. However, at Harvard, some students say their plans for foreign study have been waylaid in bureaucratic hassle and lack of administrative support.

Only a small percentage of students take advantage of the option to get academic credit for work outside of Harvard.

Last year, 142 undergraduates studied in 36 countries and received academic credit for their work, according to administrative records. This is around 2.2 percent of Harvard undergraduates.

In comparison, two years ago at Brown University, where there are university-affiliated programs abroad, 351 students or around 6.4 percent of undergraduates went abroad, according to a Brown administrator. At Amherst College, around 7 percent of students went abroad.

"Study abroad offers students the chance to take some of the most formative years of their lives, and reinvigorate them with a whole new culture--a new place, a new state of mind," says Atul K. Mallik '98-'97, who is considering study abroad.

But while many students arrive at Harvard with dreams of studying abroad, most never get beyond these early intentions.

Older students cite many reasons for not studying abroad. Many say they discover that four years is a short amount of time to spend at Harvard.

"I'm not really looking to leave Harvard for a year," Eric D. Albert '98 says. "There's too much for me to do here."

Others say they are concerned that going abroad will prevent them from gaining seniority in extracurriculars where participation junior year is particularly important.

However, some students say they simply find the process of planning a year abroad impermeable at Harvard and are deterred from their plans.

Determined students must wade through the multi-tiered paperwork process before embarking on their academic journey.

Seeking Academic Credit

Although Harvard grants credit for study abroad, the credits must be approved in advance and the paperwork requires the coordination of the Office of Career Services (OCS), the Standing Committee on Study Out of Residence, and the student's department of concentration. The Core Office must grant approval in order to receive Foreign Cultures credit.

Robert C. Hyman '97 is still waiting to find out if he will get Core credit for his year abroad at Tel Aviv University. Hopefully his application will be approved, since he is already there.