Study abroad for first semester freshman — downside

[Anonymous]

My dd was offered a first semester study abroad opportunity. I understand the ones that happen in sophomore or later years. At that point the student is used to college life, has made friends, joined clubs, etc. but if they go right away does their college experience go ok? To me it’s a weird timing setup.

[Anonymous]

And they are very young to be all by themselves in a far away land.

It can work, but I don't think it is ideal.

[Anonymous]

Not good timing.

[Anonymous]

I think it is a really bad idea for adjusting to college. They miss the beginning of the year when all freshmen adjust together. Go to the school that wants you, not that’s trying to hide your stats from the numbers of its entering class.

[Anonymous]

Was it U of MD? I heard something similar there, a few years back. Maybe they are waiting for dorm space to open up, from people who did not graduate on time?

[Anonymous]

I know a number of young people who have done this in recent years. In most cases, they loved their time abroad and went on to make a smooth adjustment when they arrived on campus second semester. In a few of those cases, the semester abroad set a foundation for their academic and career interests. In a couple of cases, things didn't work out as well, but not disastrously either. Both of those students transferred to other schools where they were quite happy and successful. It's possible that would have happened anyway, even if they had been on campus first semester.

[Anonymous]

I'm a huge fan of study abroad at a variety of ages ( I spent my junior year of HS abroad and my dd spent her senior year of HS - so I have no concerns about an 18 yo being too young.) That said, these
"we'll take you if you go abroad first" college offers seem to be about maximizing college volume at the expense of the student experience, and given what you may be paying that sounds not ideal. If its the school your kid is dying to go to and that's what will get them there - well it will probably be fine. But it's a weird time to go off in the world and then come back and THEN start your college experience. So I'd only feel good about it if the school were really otherwise the only good fit for kid.

[Anonymous]

I have heard of this a lot at Northeastern. I think they don't have enough dorm space. As the parent of a senior, I would not want him to go abroad his 1st semester. As someone said above, he would miss all the beginning of college "stuff". I also know a kid who did this at William and Mary and when he came back, he was put in a suite with juniors or seniors. It was not a good fit for obvious reasons, and he ended up moving rooms.

[Anonymous]

I am a big fan of Jr study abroad.
I am not a fan of freshman study abroad.

[Anonymous]

All depends on your kids other options and your kid.

[Anonymous]

Friends DS did that and had an extremely hard time integrating into the campus when he returned. It was a great experience, but really tough freshman year. He is now a sophomore and lives alone, basically no friends, goes home most weekends.

[Anonymous]

I think it depends on the school and the program. Can she ask to be connected with kids who have had this experience e before? And I would ask about how many years this program has been in place, is there guaranteed housing for semester 2, how many other freshman would be going? It could be a good experience but your DD shouldn’t be the experiment if this is something new they are testing.

[Anonymous]

In which country will your daughter be spending her first semester ?

Dorms or homestay ?

several schools offer or mandate this option. Northeastern & Middlebury College as well as FSU (Florida State University).

[Anonymous]

Hi OP. I think it would be more helpful if you shared the school and more details.

For example, how many kids are on the program? Are they all freshman or transfers? Are they living together in a dorm? How many of the kids will be going to her college afterwards?

If this is her dream school I do not think this is a deal breaker, especially if there are lots of other freshman from her school on the program.

[Anonymous]

I agree with others who have concerns about making friendships. However, if the study abroad is a program that is geared for Freshmen, then hopefully they would make bonds with each other that they can carry back to campus when they return. Not sure if any of these programs are setup that way though.