Return Senior Year

Students can sometimes feel rushed returning from junior year abroad to begin their final year of college. As wonderful as the year away was, the returning senior might feel she is behind in getting to know her department just as she is also trying to readjust to college life–and America–in general. Planning can help this transition.

If you will be away for junior year, make a point of meeting faculty in your major department before you leave. Go to any department events offered at the end of your sophomore year; stop by the offices of people you might like to work with and introduce yourself if you haven’t already. As you go through the process of major declaration, see if it is possible to find an advisor who will not be on leave when you return, then have conversations with this person and stay in touch periodically through email while you are away. Making and keeping these contacts will mean you feel more connected when you return. While you are away, you are also strongly encouraged to contact your major department in February or March about enrollment in senior seminars or other courses with limited enrollment (including courses to be taken for distribution requirements).

Students intending to apply to medical or other schools in the health professions should consult the health professions advisor before leaving campus. Being away for a year or even a semester, especially abroad, can affect the completion of medical school admission requirements and applications. Students thinking about graduate or law school should discuss their plans with faculty advisors and Career Development Center staff. Students who might want to apply for national awards for study abroad after graduation should consult with the Fellowships Coordinator in Career Development.