I studied in Rome. Academics came first, SLAC, so no issue with credits, as it was all designed to be a part of the core requirements. Certainly not glorified tourism. Amazing courses, some taught immersion. Art history class -- oh man. Amazing!

Life changing for me, especially as my family had never traveled at all. I hope my kids choose to study abroad. I have never felt so alive, before or since.

Great idea. Changed my life.

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!

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?

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...

Anonymous wrote:My DD wants to study aboard in her Junior year in college. Please tell me about you or your kid experience. Is this a good idea?

Abroad, OP. Abroad.

I studied in London for a semester and it was life-changing. My degree was in theatre (it's still my field 15 years after graduation), and it was amazing to learn the history and see new theatre being developed.

I did a "party abroad" to Italy (all classes in English) and I still got a ton out of it. Superb experience. I hope my kids do it too someday!

I went away for a year and it was an absolute wonderful experience. Even though it was to an English speaking country I was able to experience a diffierent culture, make new friends who had different views/beliefs, and generally grow up since my parents weren't a car drive away. And yes, I learned that swill we called beer in college tasted nothing like a good European beer!

I truly hope my kids study abroad one day.

^^ Life experience not experiment. I made some of my best friends while studying abroad and traveled all over Europe. I'd do it again in a second and definitely plan to encourage my kids to go.

It's an amazing life experiment, even if she is just going somewhere that speaks English so she can drink and party/travel. She'll have the experience of living abroad and learning how to navigate a foreign system, and to see how others around the world live and think. What is your concern?

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

I will encourage my kids to study abroad.

Mostly an expensive way for kids to travel around Europe visiting and partying with all their friends who are doing the same thing.

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.

My DD wants to study aboard in her Junior year in college. Please tell me about you or your kid experience. Is this a good idea?