Do you have to have really good grades to study abroad in south Korea?

1. Getting into the university and how difficult it may be greatly depends on the university you choose. Assuming your prep school like most schools in the US use the 4.0 grading scale, your GPA should be good enough to get into almost any university here in Korea Here, they use the 4.5gpa scale, so if you apply, make sure it is noted somehow that your GPA is based on the 4.0 scale.

However, much more important that your GPA in regards to a foreigner being admitted is your Korean ability. Nearly all departments in the country require a level 4 TOPIK exam score (some require level 5 such as a few law programs for example, while others require only a level 3, typically in sports programs. One sure-fire way to help yourself be admitted to any university you choose would be to spend a semester or two in their Korean Language Education program. Students who study in the university's own Korean program tend to get what I like to call "special consideration" from the admissions department when they apply to go on and enter regular degree programs.

2. When you say study abroad, are you referring to some type of exchange program with a US university where you would spend perhaps a year studying in Korea, or otherwise do you mean doing your entire degree here? If the case is the former, I would suggest the 2nd or 3rd year of your 4 year program would be the best "years" to do so.

3. Cost depends on many factors such as being part of an exchange program or not, and the scholarship options you may qualify for. Typically nearly ALL foreign students who enter a Korean university get at the very least 30% scholarship, and often times more. Students from western countries, or otherwise students who have great English ability tend to get more. The average cost of tuition (without scholarship) tends to be around 3.5 - 4 million Korean won per semester. In my case, I get 75% scholarship (native English speaker + passed level 5 TOPIK exam) which makes my tuition about 900,000 Korean won per semester (about 750.00 US)

4. You may stand out a bit because of your hair color, but it would be a positive thing. As far as the height/weight..etc...you wouldn't stand out too much. Note alot of this depends on where in Korea you were. (Seoul has ALOT of westerners so it barely gets noticed) while other cities tend to have fewer and as such depending on the size would be more noticeable.