Pro and Con on Study Aboard

[Anonymous]

No doubt the experiences are amazing, but so is the cost. You could take an extended vacation to a foreign country or live and work in a foreign country for much less than the cost of most study abroad programs. Practically all the schools are pushing it these days, and for good reason - it is a CASH COW for the universities.

[Anonymous]

Most schools nowadays let a student's financial aid apply to semesters abroad. Not a bad deal, if you ask me.

[Anonymous]

I've done a lot with my life and am very happy at 44. I have two true regrets in my life and not spending time abroad in college is one of them.

[Anonymous]

My study abroad semester was (a little) cheaper than a regular semester at my school. I did it through a different university. Going was one of my best decisions ever. I got so much out of it.

[Anonymous]

My study abroad was the same as tuition, plus the cost of airfare, which I worked a second summer job to cover (plus had some left over for spending money). I also had a work study arrangement at the school abroad (obviously my parents had no change to spare).

[Anonymous]

My study abroad experience changed how I viewed the world, made me set out on the career path I followed, and provided me some of my best life long friends. I still dream about it often. I will be encouraging my children to participate and am so glad my parents provided that opportunity to me as a 20 year old.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No doubt the experiences are amazing, but so is the cost. You could take an extended vacation to a foreign country or live and work in a foreign country for much less than the cost of most study abroad programs. Practically all the schools are pushing it these days, and for good reason - it is a CASH COW for the universities.

Um, no. Most schools charge the same tuition and financial aid applies. Plane tix+spending money is the only extra cost my kids had to spring for.

[Anonymous]

My husband's biggest regret in life is that he didn't study abroad. We will pretty much require our kids to do it.

[Anonymous]

Despite the posts on this thread, its really not all that its cracked up to be. Be careful: safety (?) they just don't like Americans (and you can kid yourself if think its not true); costs (as noted elsewhere); and the one thing they don't tell you----the student will not get all of the credits they need to graduate in 4 years without making up a course of two in either the summer or taking on an additional load in a semester (which is generally a real surprise). Finally, its really about visiting the countries. A future employer couldn't care less whether the student did or did not study abroad.

Its really hard to understand how someone views not studying abroad "as the biggest mistake in their life"? Really?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Despite the posts on this thread, its really not all that its cracked up to be. Be careful: safety (?) they just don't like Americans (and you can kid yourself if think its not true); costs (as noted elsewhere); and the one thing they don't tell you----the student will not get all of the credits they need to graduate in 4 years without making up a course of two in either the summer or taking on an additional load in a semester (which is generally a real surprise). Finally, its really about visiting the countries. A future employer couldn't care less whether the student did or did not study abroad.

Its really hard to understand how someone views not studying abroad "as the biggest mistake in their life"? Really?

I took literally no courses that applied to my major abroad and still graduated on time without any summer classes. You just need to plan ahead.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I studied in Madrid and it changed my life. I practice international law now.

I will encourage my kids to study abroad.

How did studying in Madrid for s semester resulted in becoming an international lawyer?

I lived in a Spanish speaking country for a few years after college and am very fluent in Spanish, as well as proficient in Portuguese. My practice focuses on Latin American commercial work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Despite the posts on this thread, its really not all that its cracked up to be. Be careful: safety (?) they just don't like Americans (and you can kid yourself if think its not true); costs (as noted elsewhere); and the one thing they don't tell you----the student will not get all of the credits they need to graduate in 4 years without making up a course of two in either the summer or taking on an additional load in a semester (which is generally a real surprise). Finally, its really about visiting the countries. A future employer couldn't care less whether the student did or did not study abroad.

Its really hard to understand how someone views not studying abroad "as the biggest mistake in their life"? Really?

Who are "they"?

I know a lot of people who studied abroad and all graduated in four years with no extra classes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My study abroad semester was (a little) cheaper than a regular semester at my school. I did it through a different university. Going was one of my best decisions ever. I got so much out of it.

+1

Mine was a LOT cheaper. $4k tuition for the semester.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No doubt the experiences are amazing, but so is the cost. You could take an extended vacation to a foreign country or live and work in a foreign country for much less than the cost of most study abroad programs. Practically all the schools are pushing it these days, and for good reason - it is a CASH COW for the universities.

Um, no. Most schools charge the same tuition and financial aid applies. Plane tix+spending money is the only extra cost my kids had to spring for.

Schools do charge the same tuition and fin aid applies as pp said. In addition, lots of schools have specific funding so students can go abraod. UMD used to knock off two thousand for the semester. This was a few years ago. I don't know if they still do it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Despite the posts on this thread, its really not all that its cracked up to be. Be careful: safety (?) they just don't like Americans (and you can kid yourself if think its not true); costs (as noted elsewhere); and the one thing they don't tell you----the student will not get all of the credits they need to graduate in 4 years without making up a course of two in either the summer or taking on an additional load in a semester (which is generally a real surprise). Finally, its really about visiting the countries. A future employer couldn't care less whether the student did or did not study abroad.

Its really hard to understand how someone views not studying abroad "as the biggest mistake in their life"? Really?

I took literally no courses that applied to my major abroad and still graduated on time without any summer classes. You just need to plan ahead.

+1000. Plus, any halfway decent school has a study abroad department and provides advisors that will work with you to figure out the classes you need to take in order to stay on track. It's really not that hard. Schools take their 4 yr graduation rates VERY seriously. They wouldn't be encouraging kids to go abroad if it would screw up their progress.