Study Abroad

Programs away from SAAS can differ greatly, and we don’t specifically endorse or recommend any programs. You should look for a program that you think would add value to your experience as a student. One priority you should consider is if the program is accredited and provides curriculum, grades, and a transcript upon completion. This is important because while you are away from SAAS you will not be earning grades or credits from SAAS.

The courses and grades from your time abroad do not appear on your SAAS transcript, though we will count those credits, as applicable, toward graduation requirements. When you apply to colleges, your SAAS transcript and your transcript from your time abroad will be sent with your application.

No. Because grades do not appear on your SAAS transcript they will not factor into your GPA. You will likely earn a GPA from the program you have selected.

This depends on your grade level while traveling abroad. We recommend you engage in all core academic courses (English, History, Math, Science, World Language) while away. If you are away from SAAS during any part of your 11th grade year, you will need to enroll in a US History course or engage in US History credit recovery upon your return. If you have any questions about this please contact registrar@seattleacademy.org.

Students choosing to be away from SAAS during the Spring of their 11th grade year are encouraged to be attentive to their SAAS email in order to engage with their College Advisor during the beginning stages of the process. When they return to Seattle, students should schedule a time to meet with their College Advisor. Students who wish to take standardized tests (ACT/SAT) while away should seek to find testing sites near where they are planning to attend.

This decision is up to you and your family. There are pros and cons to being away at any point in the year, and being away certainly impacts the experience you will have at SAAS overall. You should consider extracurriculars you are involved in, the challenges that any transition into/away from a school can present, and classes you are hoping to take. We understand that different programs might require certain start or end dates that determine the time of year a student goes abroad. When choice is available without conflict, we recommend attending classes here to start the year and leaving for the second half or third of the year. 

This is an integral part of the decision for students to study away from SAAS. Students and families should engage the director/teacher of the advanced program they are a part of to get a sense of what is possible for their participation upon return.

Yes, you should register for classes as if you were going to be at SAAS the entire year.

We encourage students to communicate with their teachers prior to returning to SAAS. In many cases, teachers will recommend some preparation work students can do to transition more successfully (for example, if they will be entering an English class while students are mid-way through a text), though this work does not apply to credits. For Math and World Language classes, students need to communicate with the Department Chair of that course area to determine placement and any possible preparation work to enter mid-year. 

Many students who travel abroad enroll in advanced level courses. Given the accelerated nature of those classes, we recommend communicating with a Department Chair in those course areas when considering going abroad to determine how they will transition out or in successfully. As noted in the response above,and in particular if a student is transitioning into an advanced-level class mid-year, some preparation work will likely be needed.

Upon your return, you may be asked to take a placement exam for Math and/or World Language to assess if you are adequately prepared to enter the next level.

Your grades will be based on the work you have completed. If you are entering/leaving at a mid-tri point you will earn .5 credits in each of your enrolled courses. If you leave at mid-tri, your final grade will be your mid-tri grade.

Though some programs facilitate coursework from the student’s home institution, SAAS does not offer curriculum to other programs. We believe it is in the student’s best interest to engage in their program abroad. Students can keep updated on content for their courses if interested by looking at teachers’ Schoology pages. 
 

For all tuition/contract related questions please be in touch with Lori Metcalf (lmetcalf@seattleacademy.org) and Julie Gommi (jgommi@seattleacademy.org). 

You do not need to "make-up" any classes for SAAS. The classes you engage in and earn credit for while away, will count towards your SAAS graduation requirements. While you are away you must engage in an English class, if your program does not offer and English class you must engage in credit recovery through an accredited program to earn the Washington State required four years of English credit. If you are away from SAAS during 11th grade year you must engage in Upper School History credit recovery from an accredited program, one year of Upper School History is a Washington State graduation requirement.