Pro and Con on Study Aboard

[Anonymous]

I loved my semester abroad so much. I was terrified to travel outside of the country, but I grew so much with that experience. Gained so much courage and independence that I didn't get living sheltered on a college campus. My Spanish improved exponentially as I lived with a host family. Traveled around Europe for the first time, but tried to spend as much time in Spain while I was there. It was a huge educational and growth experience for me.

[Anonymous]

Chances are that after graduating college, graduates won't have the opportunity to go live in a foreign country for an extended period of time. Typically students graduate, get a job and get 2 or 3 weeks of vacation for the next 10 years. Then they get 4 weeks but can't use it all at once. It's a life opportunity that will unlikely present itself again so I would absolutely encourage it.

[Anonymous]

My DD studied abroad and it was an amazing experience for her. She and her friends she met abroad will always treasure that time. It has encouraged her to seek opportunities that she may not have even thought about without the experience - internships abroad, summer studies and even the possibility of living abroad for a period of time after graduating.

I did not study abroad myself when I was in school and I truly wish I had. I wouldn't call it the biggest regret of my life (have a few others that make it higher on that list...), but it is a regret, especially after seeing the positive affect it has had on my DD. I will be encouraging my DS to also study abroad. I think it's an important way to open yourself to new experiences and perspectives and, dammit - have fun!

To those who are saying it's such a waste of time and money...you need to live life a little more! Stop worrying so much about getting the "right" job, "right" house, "right" life - by the time you do that you'll be too tired and burned out to enjoy anything!

[Anonymous]

My kid is going to England next semester. Tuition/housing is are same as it is at her university, so the only additional expense is plane tickets and spending money. Even if she does just drink beer and party with other American students, who cares? You're only young once...

[Anonymous]

Smartest decision I ever made. It was life altering. I learned more in the year I was abroad than in any of the other 3 years I spent at college.

I've already asked my own children not "do you want to study abroad" but "which country do you want to go to study your junior year abroad?"

[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 am most happy in life when I am far away from doom-and-gloomers like you.

Live a little. Seize the day.

[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 don't know where you studied, but I am still close friends with many of the students I met on my study abroad program more than 20 years ago -- the ones from the home country, and we've not only stayed in touch but we've stayed at each other's houses over the years. I never had any safety issues and I traveled by myself often as a 20 year old woman.

And I got credit for every class I took and graduated in 4 years.

Finally, I can tell you that my employers over the years have been very impressed with my living abroad and speaking the language. I know for a fact that I got one job because of it.

It wasn't just about visiting the countries, though travel is a huge part of it. It's about having your world view completely altered because you learn to look through the eyes of others.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Glorified tourism in almost all cases. Better off spending college learning and then do a 2-3 year stint abroad after school - teaching English, Fulbright, etc...

+1

The actual going abroad part can be fantastic, but the fees and credit workarounds schools impose on students are too much. If your child took the money they would have used to study abroad and pooled together with 2-3 friends doing the same, they could live very well in Europe/Asia for the same amount of time as a college study abroad program, not worry about classes and definitely enjoy the international experience on a grander scale!

My year abroad didn't cost any more than if I had stayed at home that year, other than the airplane ticket and some of the traveling I did during holidays.

[Anonymous]

I'm not sure where some of the pp got their facts, but my financial aid package transferred and I graduated in 4 years. Considering I had loans I wanted to start working right away so hanging out in Europe post graduation wasn't a good option.

[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.

Many schools make it so that the cost to go abroad is the same as the cost to go for a semester at home.

[Anonymous]

My husband and I studied in the UK together and had been dating ahead of that. What an amazing six months that was for both of us! We still have friends from our semester abroad and so many great stories and memories! I was a scholarship student but my aid transferred and I found a job while there that paid me cash for other expenses. I had never been outside of the US before the trip and it was both life changing and empowering. One of the best parts was our five week spring break where we got a Eurail Pass and wound our way through continental Europe staying with friends or in youth hostels. Anyone who studied in Europe then knows the "bible" we carried, Let's Go Europe! We met so many other American students on the trains and often changed plans to travel with them to an unexpected city for a few days. We would just get off the train and call around for a place to stay, a major life lesson in being self sufficient. What an opportunity we had! My girls will both study abroad for sure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's great if she's going for a true cultural experience.

It's awful if she's going to Australia or somewhere to not learn a foreign language and drink a lot.

Australia is a different culture, mate.

[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 is "they?"

As for employers not caring less -- so untrue. Most big business is very interested in employee mobility and are very interested in students willing to move abroad for secondments. Students who've studied abroad probably are a lot more willing to do this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's great if she's going for a true cultural experience.

It's awful if she's going to Australia or somewhere to not learn a foreign language and drink a lot.

Eh, even then it's still a good experience. It'll still make her grow. She'll be out of her (by now) comfortable college bubble having to try new things on her own.

[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?

Who is "they?"

As for employers not caring less -- so untrue. Most big business is very interested in employee mobility and are very interested in students willing to move abroad for secondments. Students who've studied abroad probably are a lot more willing to do this.

On the Common Application, several of DC's desired colleges ask DC in what countries has DC lived in even though the U.S. citizen box is checked.