Dear CBU: Letters from England
Entry #3: The A's, B's, and C's of Studying Abroad

Correspondent: Sally Lynch
Senior at CBU
Natural Science Major
English/Psychology Minor
Hometown: Covington, Louisiana
(45 miles north of New Orleans)

Well, over the past few weeks, I have been writing a lot about the fun parts of studying at Edge Hill; getting to know new people, exploring the campus, etc. In all the excitement of studying abroad, it can sometimes be easy to forget the "study" part of the deal. I have had to remind myself several times that I am not here on a vacation- as wonderful as that would be! As I mentioned in my first entry, I am taking the American equivalent of 12 hours during my stay at Edge Hill; that's four modules, or classes.

Now, here's the tricky part about transferring credits, the credit transfers, but the letter grade does not. To some people, this makes things easier, whether you make an "A" or a "D," you pass, right? Wrong! Don't plan to study abroad unless you are willing to work toward a grade equivalent to a "C" or better, otherwise, you won't be receiving credit toward your diploma when you return to the states!

Adapting to the new classroom atmosphere over on this side of the pond has probably been one of the more difficult challenges in my time here thus far. Here at Edge Hill, independent study is the name of the game; there are fewer class guidelines, slightly larger classes, and fewer assignments on which your grade will be based. Take my Social Psychology class for example. My semester grade is based on my attendance and one other assignment that is due in December. I think that many of you can see where it might become easy to procrastinate over here!

Don't get me wrong, though! The professors and tutors are all very nice, and more than willing to help us poor little Americans as much as they can! Most of the faculty and staff are available via email or reliable office hours, and all will make time to meet on a one-on-one basis for any additional help. All assignments that I have been given have been handed to me well ahead of time, and most professors provide a list of books and helpful reading materials.

Books are an issue in themselves. Most required reading material can be borrowed from the Edge Hill library, or purchased from the bookstore in Ormskirk. The library also contains a huge selection of journals and articles, which are also very helpful when it comes to keeping up in class, especially those focused on current events. So far, I have not had to buy a single book! What a welcome change, and a great money-saver!

The grading system here might drive some people crazy, however! I never thought that getting a 75 on a paper would be a good thing, but it is over here! The grading scale is based on a system on thirds. Basically, a 70 or above is equivalent to an "A," and a 40 or below is considered failing. Most students fall between the "B" and "C" range, which is typically between a 65 and 50. It's a little intimidating at first, but once you get used to the initial shock, it's not so bad. The toughest thing is often getting yourself inspired to work in a new country! Ta' for now!

Read Sally's Entries!
Entry #1: Hello to all my fellow Buccaneers back at CBU!
Entry #2: Subtle Differences
Entry #3: The A's, B's, and C's of Studying Abroad
Entry #4: Travel Tips
Entry #5: Q and A Session
Entry #6: The Countdown Begins!
Entry #7: Saying Goodbye
Entry #8: Re-Entry: the Ups and Downs

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