Semester abroad: Fall vs. spring?

[Anonymous]

DC is a sophomore and knows they want to go abroad for a piece of junior year. Assuming class schedule/credit requirements allow for either, are there advantages or disadvantages to doing fall vs. spring?

The only thing I can think of is that a spring semester would allow more time/flexibility to travel after the program wraps up.

[Anonymous]

This seems to be school dependent. My Michigan kid for example is going in the spring because nobody misses Michigan football season. Her Tulane friend is going in the fall because nobody misses Mardi Gras at Tulane. Can also depend on availability of classes (at home school or abroad), internships, weather, etc. - but there's no huge deciding factor otherwise.

[Anonymous]

Agree with this being school dependent, especially if it's a big sports school. Spring term is more popular at my kids' school because of football season. I work at a basketball school (T10), and barely anyone goes abroad in Spring.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This seems to be school dependent. My Michigan kid for example is going in the spring because nobody misses Michigan football season. Her Tulane friend is going in the fall because nobody misses Mardi Gras at Tulane. Can also depend on availability of classes (at home school or abroad), internships, weather, etc. - but there's no huge deciding factor otherwise.

Yep. In addition to football season, my Wolverine would rather spend fall in AA than winter!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This seems to be school dependent. My Michigan kid for example is going in the spring because nobody misses Michigan football season. Her Tulane friend is going in the fall because nobody misses Mardi Gras at Tulane. Can also depend on availability of classes (at home school or abroad), internships, weather, etc. - but there's no huge deciding factor otherwise.

+1. The school will have a study-abroad culture that most students follow. This is what you want to do. It's also weather dependent. Many schools in the north without big football programs send kids spring semester so they can get away from the cold.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DC is a sophomore and knows they want to go abroad for a piece of junior year. Assuming class schedule/credit requirements allow for either, are there advantages or disadvantages to doing fall vs. spring?

The only thing I can think of is that a spring semester would allow more time/flexibility to travel after the program wraps up.

P.S. Your child will be sick of traveling and ready to go home by the time the program wraps up. All these kids do is travel when they are abroad.

[Anonymous]

Why not the full year? That’s what I did, and I loved it. A semester is too short. It takes a couple of months in a new country to get your bearings.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This seems to be school dependent. My Michigan kid for example is going in the spring because nobody misses Michigan football season. Her Tulane friend is going in the fall because nobody misses Mardi Gras at Tulane. Can also depend on availability of classes (at home school or abroad), internships, weather, etc. - but there's no huge deciding factor otherwise.

Ahh, America and its unhealthy obsession with the dumbest sport there is. Plan your semester abroad around the schedule of overweight jocks ramming into each other. Sad!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This seems to be school dependent. My Michigan kid for example is going in the spring because nobody misses Michigan football season. Her Tulane friend is going in the fall because nobody misses Mardi Gras at Tulane. Can also depend on availability of classes (at home school or abroad), internships, weather, etc. - but there's no huge deciding factor otherwise.

Ahh, America and its unhealthy obsession with the dumbest sport there is. Plan your semester abroad around the schedule of overweight jocks ramming into each other. Sad!

Plan your semester around important-to-you social events and traditions with friends. Happy!

[Anonymous]

My kid goes to one of the Maine SLACs. Lots of kids go abroad second semester which means they miss most of the winter weather. My kid went abroad fall semester because he likes the cold weather plus he was studying at an Asian university and the school schedules aligned better for the fall.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This seems to be school dependent. My Michigan kid for example is going in the spring because nobody misses Michigan football season. Her Tulane friend is going in the fall because nobody misses Mardi Gras at Tulane. Can also depend on availability of classes (at home school or abroad), internships, weather, etc. - but there's no huge deciding factor otherwise.

Ahh, America and its unhealthy obsession with the dumbest sport there is. Plan your semester abroad around the schedule of overweight jocks ramming into each other. Sad!

Sorry you missed out on a fun college football experience, PP. I can see that it still bothers you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC is a sophomore and knows they want to go abroad for a piece of junior year. Assuming class schedule/credit requirements allow for either, are there advantages or disadvantages to doing fall vs. spring?

The only thing I can think of is that a spring semester would allow more time/flexibility to travel after the program wraps up.

P.S. Your child will be sick of traveling and ready to go home by the time the program wraps up. All these kids do is travel when they are abroad.

We didn't find this to be true at all. Mine picked spring semester due to spring break for travel and travel at the end of program. And to not miss football season.

[Anonymous]

Being away spring semester of junior year can make job hunting tough.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Being away spring semester of junior year can make job hunting tough.

DC chose to study away in the spring semester for the exact opposite reason; the majority of internships in his industry of choice recruit in the fall.

[Anonymous]

Posters have mentioned the weather at the home school. What about weather at the destination -- dry season vs rainy, getting colder vs. getting warmer.

If student wants to stay on and travel, will there be timing issues with December holidays/break and the start of the new term? Will it it put theme at a disadvantage for summer work?