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The OCS Pre-Application, a non-binding but required step in the application process, asks students to consider the timing and duration as well as their academic and personal goals for off-campus study experience. Students will be asked to request a term (e.g. fall, spring, year) and provide rationale for their selection. You should consider required courses for your prospective majors, courses that may only be offered during particular semesters on campus, language preparation for your study off-campus experiences, dates of the off-campus study program, among other factors. All students will be assigned a term following submission of the OCS Pre-Application. Students may petition their term assignments; switches of term assignments are limited due to ensure on-campus enrollment balance.

For ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø±¬ÍøÕ¾, a small, residential liberal arts college with a large participation rate in off-campus study, it is very important to manage a balanced enrollment between the fall and spring semester. The on-campus academic program, housing and student activities here on-campus could be undermined if there is a striking imbalance between off-campus semester enrollments. Considering this possibility, the top priority at ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø±¬ÍøÕ¾ is the quality of our on-campus academic program.

Tips to start the OCS Pre-Application: It is strongly recommended to open and start the OCS Pre-Application in early September. To do so, students must login by clicking the blue button above and entering their ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø±¬ÍøÕ¾ single sign-on credentials. Every program brochure has a tab entitled “ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø±¬ÍøÕ¾ OCS Approval Steps” where students may access the OCS Pre-Application. Note: Accessing the Pre-Application through a specific program brochure will not bind you to that specific program.

The ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø±¬ÍøÕ¾ OCS Application requires students to seek approval from ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø±¬ÍøÕ¾ to study off-campus on a particular program/university during the term which was assigned to them during the Pre-Application process. (Note: Students must also seek approval directly from the program or university to attend).

In the OCS Application, students will be asked to articulate why they have chosen their specific off-campus study opportunity as well as demonstrate understanding of course offerings and how credit may transfer back to ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø±¬ÍøÕ¾ for particular coursework taken off-campus.

The ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø±¬ÍøÕ¾ OCS Application is embedded in each individual program brochure on the Study Off-Campus Options List. Once you have finalized your program selection, go to the program’s page and select “Apply Now” button on the “ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø±¬ÍøÕ¾ OCS Application” tab. Students will be able to access the required forms beginning in early January. It is not recommended to contact faculty until the spring semester begins to discuss the Course Exercise form. This form will require you to meet with faculty advisors in your major/s and minor academic departments to discuss overall support of your plan to study off-campus as well as obtain provisional credit approval for individual courses. Remember, faculty may require submission of syllabi, graded assessments, and other course materials following your off-campus study semester to fully approve major/minor credit.

All students who request to study off-campus on a program not on our Options list must meet individually with an OCS staff member. Once they have met with that staff member, the “petition” program will be made available to them. Students then follow the same process as all applicants for the ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø±¬ÍøÕ¾ OCS application process. Students will be told if their petition program is approved by March 1. It is recommended that fall/year students apply directly to their petition program prior to their selected program prior to receiving approval if it is a competitive application process.

Late OCS Pre-Applications are considered on a case-by-case basis. Students who demonstrate flexibility and are able to study off-campus in a particular term based on enrollment capacity will be given priority. These applications will be reviewed by the OCS office.

Late OCS Applications are considered on a case-by-case basis and are approved rarely. Students must demonstrate that they faced extenuating circumstances that prevented them from participating in the regular application process. Students submit an appeal to the OCS Office and the Recording Committee. These appeals are only considered for the spring term and may be submitted by April 25 or September 15.

While it is rare, students may elect to change their study off-campus study program because they were not admitted to their top-choice program or they have identified a program that better aligns with their academic and personal goals. Students must communicate with the OCS office if they want to change their program. Any request to change should be submitted to OCS in enough time to complete an application to the new program on time (no later than March 1st for fall/year away, September 15 for spring away.) We welcome students thinking about changing to meet with us for an advising session. Approval of program changes is at the OCS office’s discretion.

Students may consider withdrawing from OCS for a variety of reasons. We strive to help students overcome many common obstacles to study away, such as finances, credits, health needs, among other factors. Students who withdraw from study off-campus should understand the financial, academic, and personal impact of this change of plans, including informing the program/university of your withdrawal and pursuing any refunds, as well as securing housing and class registration at ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø±¬ÍøÕ¾.

In addition to securing ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø±¬ÍøÕ¾’s approval to study off-campus, students must obtain the approval from their respective program or host institution directly through a separate application process.

• Depending on the institution, applications may require any of the following:
• Application form (online or paper/pdf)
• Transcript (student must order from the ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø±¬ÍøÕ¾ Registrar's Office)
• Essay, writing sample, portfolio, audition Home school authorization/confirmation of enrollment
• Letter/form of recommendation (usually from a faculty member)
• Foreign language evaluation
• Research proposal
• Resume
• Application fee

Study away students are strongly encouraged to apply to only one program/university at a time. Only in rare circumstances where a program is known to the OCS office to be highly selective or to limit enrollment would OCS recommend applying to a backup. Most ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø±¬ÍøÕ¾ students are admitted to their first-choice institution and OCS works with anyone who does not get admitted in determining a suitable alternative.