How does a semester abroad look for grad school?

[Anonymous]

DD is a bio major at a LAC and wants to do a semester abroad in Austrailia. She also wants to pursue graduate school in biology/wildlife conservation.

How does a semester overseas look on a resume? Big deal? Little deal? No deal?

[Anonymous]

Little deal.

Could perhaps help with networking though (if she interacts with a researcher there, and they write her a strong letter of recommendation).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Little deal.

Could perhaps help with networking though (if she interacts with a researcher there, and they write her a strong letter of recommendation).

+1 DS's friend did study abroad in Australia and is now doing a PhD program there because of connections he made during his study abroad experience.

[Anonymous]

Does it make a difference where? For example, if she's interested in marine biology, James Cook University in Townsville is a world leader (with the Great Barrier Reef on its doorstep).

[Anonymous]

Not important. Certainly, it wouldn't be a negative.

Sometimes, by chance, the student may find they connect with an interviewer who also studied abroad.

[Anonymous]

For grad school in science, they are primarily looking at your undergraduate research experience.
I don’t think a semester abroad will tip the scales one way or another.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does it make a difference where? For example, if she's interested in marine biology, James Cook University in Townsville is a world leader (with the Great Barrier Reef on its doorstep).

OP here. Thanks for the feedback. And James Cook University is exactly where she's considering.

[Anonymous]

My DC went to an LAC, did a semester abroad in Australia (had an amazing time!), and got into their 2 top grad school choices. For grad school, the more research experience an applicant has, the better.