For those with kids in college, give me the real scoop on the “perks”
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Anonymous
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At every college fair, info session, and online tutorials we see each college talks about internships, study abroad, co-ops, research opportunities, etc...
How much of this is actually accurate? How expensive is study abroad. Of course most places make it seem free or very cheap, but I am not buying that. And are undergrads really getting top notch research options? I am trying to not only be realistic, but adding these types of things to the total cost. We will be receiving some FA for sure. So trying to figure it out. More semesters? More money? |
Anonymous
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There are NO perks that don't cost big $ unless your kid does research that can be published by a professor.
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Anonymous
| At some schools you pay regular tuition for your study abroad semester/year, at others you pay the program you attend directly. |
Anonymous
And at some you pay your regular tution plus a study abroad fee. My niece just did one where the fee was paid directly to the program in Coasta Rica. |
Anonymous
| Generally the elite schools have ample funding to back up their stated benefits either as a part of tuition or have FA application. |
Anonymous
English please. Are you saying that these "perks" are free at Elite schools? Yes or No. |
Anonymous
| My DD has done two internships at a science software company, one national lab and two at NASA. She has mentored students and participated in a science outreach program. She also has been working as an undergraduate research assistant to a postdoc. Still has one year left of undergrad. |
Anonymous
| Not that simple an answer. For example there are abroad trips that are handled as if the country were part of campus so regular tuition and housing is the same. You can also opt for trips that are through an overseas university. There may be additional costs. For a kid who can't afford to pay, they can apply for funding. All colleges offer career counselling services available to all students which helps with internships. At my kid's college they go beyond that to fund salaries for what might otherwise be unpaid summer positions. Any kid can apply for those, usually granted if it's a legitimate supervised position. |
Anonymous
np - every school is different. there's no simple answer. |
Anonymous
Well isn't that special... |
Anonymous
I know right? 
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Anonymous
| Lol, the OP asked if all the things they promised were valid. I’m just letting him know that there is no end to the opportunities for college students. |
Anonymous
that's nice... that's real nice... |
Anonymous
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In the sciences and engineering, there is often funding for paid research and internship opportunities. There is also often funding for trips to present results at conferences. I know several students who have received funding or pay to travel abroad for research or internship opportunities (not study abroad, but still a foreign experience) at no cost to themselves and with a small amount of pay.
How competitive you are for these open opportunities depends on your ability to get research experience at your university early in your academic career, your university's reputation, and your grades. Some universities also host programs for their own undergrads. |
Anonymous
| REU’s are a great way for a student at a small school to experience research at a much larger university. |