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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=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.[/quote]

Study abroad for high school students normally have a much shorter leash (i.e. more supervision) that in college.

[b]Like for high school, doesn't the student usually live with a family? [/b]

I know someone overseas now (in college) who lives an hour away from his classes, in off campus housing. Very different than going with the French club in high school.[/quote]

No, not unless you seek out a program that lives with a family. Most programs are living in dorms or in group houses/apartments. My program in London through Boston University had 4 students living in a BU owned 2-BR flat in Kensington (one floor of a row house).  We only saw adults when we went to class or when we went to our jobs (it was an internship program).  There was essentially no adult oversight or guidance.  Furthermore, our flat was the only one in that row house - in fact - I don't remember there being others even on our street.  I was a 21 yr old free in London (and it was great). I had more influence from co-workers at my job who invited me to events than I had from BU.  We took weekend trips and a trip during Fall break - all organized by groups of students. Not by BU.[/quote]
But you were 21, and had already adjusted to college life and matured by junior year, you were used to living away from home, so the switch to living in a row house with just other 21 yo was not that "much more" but rather just a part of the growing up process.  Huge difference than a freshman, barely 18 yo, who is used to living at home with parents.  For many kids, that would be a bit too much for them to handle vs normal fall freshman year where you are with other freshman, living in a dorm, RAs and many other "adults looking out for you" environment.  
I personally know neither of my 3 kids would have done well with study abroad fall of freshman year.  One was offered it and immediately said No to that school and picked a better for them school (and overall a better school).  [/quote]

I'm pp and I totally agree with you. I was saying that the college program was not "living with families" and, in fact, was complete freedom with no real oversight and no planned events.

I would not send a Freshman to the program I went to - it is NOT appropriate on many levels, but most maturity related (freedom, lack of programming, lack of guidance, level of internship, purpose of internship)[/quote]

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