Getting Started on the Path to Study Abroad

First Steps

If you intend to apply to study abroad during either semester of the 2009-2010 academic year, you must follow these steps:
    
1.    Attend the mandatory Sophomore Information Session and read the handout.

2.    Read the Off Campus Study Handbook carefully. You will find that it answers many of your questions, and it is our expectation that you will read it before proceeding further with your plans. Other sources of information include:

  • Consult with your departmental advisor. If you have not yet declared a major, think about doing so before the November 15 preliminary application deadline.
  • Consult program information in our OCS library and via the Off-Campus Opportunities list on the OCS Web site to get more information on those you might be interested in. Specific approved program Web sites are listed in the Handbook.
  • Consult with the off-campus liaison in your department. A list of these faculty members will be available in the OCS office and in the Handbook.
  • Program evaluations from recent Colby students are available on the OCS Web site for you to review.
  • Information sessions on specific programs and regions of the world will be offered in October and November. Check the OCS Web site for meeting schedule. You will also receive an email notification of upcoming information sessions.
  • Consult with OCS staff


3.    Fill in a preliminary application form on line on the OCS web page under “students.” When you are done, submit it to your advisor(s). If you are a double major, both advisors will receive a copy and must approve it before your application is complete. Your advisor may return it to you for changes before indicating his or her approval. If your advisor approves your preliminary application, he or she will submit the form electronically to the OCS office. You are responsible for ensuring that the form reaches our office before the deadline of November 15, 2008; we recommend submitting it to your advisor no later than November 10. You can check the status of your preliminary application on the web page so that you will know when it has been submitted.

4.    The OCS office will contact you to set up an appointment to discuss your off-campus study plans if you have an issue that will require special attention. You will also be invited to a variety of informational sessions on programs and regions; some of these will take place in the fall and some in February. If your program has an early deadline or if you need extra help in the planning stage, contact the OCS office.

5.    When you meet with the OCS staff and/or attend a mandatory information session, you will be given an application form(s) for off-campus study.

 
Application for Colby Approval
Deadlines
  • November 15, 2009 is the deadline for completion of your preliminary application form to indicate your intention to study off-campus either in the fall semester 2009 or the spring semester 2010. The preliminary application will be available on-line in mid-October. All sophomores will receive an email notification when the application is accessible. Since your advisor/s must approve your initial plans, we strongly suggest that you submit your preliminary application to your advisor/s no later than November 10.
  • March 1, 2010 is the deadline for petitions of any kind. These may include: low GPA (under 2.7), study abroad for more than one semester, and/or non-approved programs.
  • March 15, 2010 is the final deadline for admission to Colby programs and/or application for approval of participation in non-Colby programs. Different forms are required for each of these situations, but all must be submitted by March 15, regardless of whether you plan to study abroad in the fall semester of 2009 or in the spring semester of 2010. These forms will be made available to you later during the fall 2008 semester and after you have identified your program choice in consultation with the OCS staff and your academic advisor(s).


Application
Application forms will be distributed at Information Sessions and can be picked up at the Off-Campus Study office (in Eustis 103). Colby’s Application for approval to study off-campus (different form depending on the program) requires:

  • Faculty signatures for approval to study abroad
  • Faculty signatures for advance course approval for major/minor or All College Requirement credit
  • Parents signatures (originals) on last 2 pages of Colby’s application form

 
Petitions
If you plan to petition, please schedule an appointment with an OCS staff member now by calling us at 859-4500. If you will be petitioning for either a program not on Colby’s approved list, a GPA waiver, a full year abroad (in one location or two) remember to submit ALL of your documents by or before the March 1 deadline. You will need:

  • Your letter of petition
  • Your faculty support statement  or Faculty Recommendation for GPA waiver
  • Your completed application form for Colby approval
  • Other supporting documentation (program information on non-approved programs)
 
Application to your chosen Off-Campus program

Review the application process, forms and deadlines for the program(s) to which you plan to apply.

Deadlines
You will also need to meet the deadlines and complete the application required by the program itself.

  • Check your chosen program’s deadline, or whether they have rolling admission.
  • Program deadlines vary a lot. In some cases they may be as early as Feb 1 (even for Spring) or as late as October. Check with the program to find out if they fill up quickly.
  • Note some of these deadlines may be before Colby’s March 1 (petition) / March 15 deadline for application. In this case, apply ASAP to your program AND complete Colby’s application as we will need that done in order for OCS to sign your program’s approval form.

Applications
Complete your study abroad program application and submit it directly to their admissions department.

For Colby programs abroad (Colby in Salamanca, Dijon, or St. Petersburg) there is only one application form that gives you approval to study abroad and admits you into the program.

For non-Colby programs abroad, you need to fill out an application for approval in order for your plans to be approved by Colby and then complete the materials required by the program to which you are applying. 

Applications will usually include:

  • Program application forms (online or on paper)
  • Essay
  • Faculty letters of recommendation
  • Transcript
  • Medical report
  • Home school nomination/study abroad advisor approval form may be required and must be requested from Colby Off-Campus Study.