Non-EU exchanges & first year GPA

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So the thought just came to me tonight about doing an exchange to the USA or Australia next year and I'm wondering what the deal is with GPA.
I'm in second year science now and doing well, but I will admit I was fairly lazy in first year so I only got a GPA of about 3. I'm aiming for much higher this year but I'm wondering would the poor grades from last year effect it a lot?

Also, are some of them harder to get into than others and so require and higher GPA or is it fairly standardised? My first choice would be the University of Washington, then Virginia and then the Australian ones.

Any info would be appreciated, thanks.

Maldesu

Think the max request for the GPA was 3.08 from one of the American Uni's. They expect a min of 3 though.
Go up to the International office and get it checked though

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Maldesu wrote: »

Think the max request for the GPA was 3.08 from one of the American Uni's. They expect a min of 3 though.
Go up to the International office and get it checked though

For first year, second year or for the two years combined?

Maldesu

If you are doing a 3 year degree, its on the 1st year.

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4 year degree but I'm in second year now.

Maldesu

Might take it from the year before then. Best check with international though, but if its 3 or over you should be ok, but get up to one of the meetings and get your name written showing you have interest in it.

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Ok thanks. I emailed them so I'll probably hear back on Monday.

RayCarley

If the system is still the same as it was two years ago they work it out as follows:

For California, it's entirely based on your 1st year GPA and you needed a very high 3 to get to go.
For everywhere else it's based on the average of your 1st year and 1st semester of 2nd year GPA. I think that 3.0 is the minimum for anywhere but I may be wrong there. Basically the entire thing is done by GPA, you have to write a small paragraph or two about why you want to go but they kept telling us that it was pretty much irrelevant. But I think pretty much everyone I know who wanted to go, got to go somewhere in the world.
Maldesu has given good advice, try and attend the next info session by the International Office and also as you said, try and get your GPA up a little bit in the Christmas exams and you should have a very good chance of getting somewhere.

TigerIsa

It's based on 1st year GPA and 1st semester of 2nd year.

A 3.0 GPA is perfect, there isn't much demand within science for exchanges; I'm currently in 3rd year and no one (that I've heard) even applied to Washington or Virginia, there are a few science people in my stream going/gone to Australia (with barely over a 3.0 GPA) so don't worry, you'll more than likely get your first choice!

What course are you doing? California was one that a lot of people applied for but I think you're in a biomed biomolecular stream so can't apply for there anyway

Maldesu

Late notice, but the UCD International Fair is today. Go up and get your name put down on the interest sheet

On until 4 at the International Office

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Maldesu wrote: »

Late notice, but the UCD International Fair is today. Go up and get your name put down on the interest sheet

On until 4 at the International Office

I was there, thanks.

edgal

Yes I've been told that to be eligible to go on any Erasmus & for travelling internationally you must have an absolute minimum GPA of 2.8., that calculated from Semester 1 & 2 of first year and the 1st semester of your second year.

I'm just wondering whether it is more competitive in Law with courses as theres only a limited number of people who can actually get a place to study abroad for mine I think its approximately 5 people, so would GPA requirements be significantly higher for international exchanges that are through English ie: Canada, Minnesota USA and Australia ?

I don't have any fluency in the Erasmus exchanges languages (ie: within the EU French & German) that are on offer, are these generally the least applied for ?


Also, do the majority of courses generally want to go away ? As 5 places is seems extremely scarce.

And does it make your final year significantly more difficult as only the 4th year exams will count towards the final degree ?

Any help re: the above would be much appreciated!