<p>SIT <3 <3 </p>
<p>They are amazing. They have some of the coolest programs I've ever heard of which is why I'm spending a year with them. And possibly a summer too.</p>
<p>mchs is ABSOLUTELY correct!!!</p>
<p>I just got back from a fabbbbulous semester in Israel- I had such a wonderful time that I stayed for another two months! To answer your questions, I'll use my experience as an example.</p>
<p>At first I was hesitated about studying abroad because I loved my school so much but my advisor told me to go somewhere- get out. So I did. There are absolutely no downside to being abroad except maybe you might not want to go home... (as in my case). I had friends in Israel who were pre-med and they still managed to go. Either they doubled up all the sciences in the first two years or chose to take physics in their senior year and thus, putting off med school for a year or so. They're happy with whatever decisions they made.</p>
<p>There really are so many choices. I looked into France, Italy, and Czech Republic before looking into Israel. Really read through the sites and brochures- look at the classes, look at trips they plan to offer... read their mission statement. Look at how much it costs and what it covers- does it seem reasonable? If it's ridiculously expensive, then it's obviously targeted for profit. When choosing a program in a popular country like France, Spain, Italy, and the UK, try to narrow your focus because there's bound to be one that fits most of your criteria. For example, there was a fine arts program in Florence that heavily focuses on art history, studio art, and had some Italian Jewish history... and not so heavy on the Italian language- perfect for me at that time. When it comes to other countries with smaller number of programs, just try to choose the one that you feel comfortable and good about- especially the location, location. For me, did I want to live in Tel Aviv which is a lot like NYC, always on the go, very modern... or Jerusalem, more relaxed, very diverse, and strong historical signifiance?</p>
<p>I lived in all of that when I was in Israel. I mostly lived in student apartments with other Americans- that kinda sucked. If we were lucky, we'd be placed with the Israelis- quite an adventure from what I've heard. For families, it can be kind of confiding because the parents are always looking from the corner of their eyes but at the same time, it's so wonderful to have their patience and desire to help you learn for learning the national language. I highly, HIGHLY recommend NOT going with your school!!!! You just don't get out and explore the country. I'm so glad that I didn't get in my school's London program because then I wouldn't have gotten to know Israel as well as I do now. Like someone said, don't pick a program where it's just a change of scenary for American kids who'll just go en masse to bars and cafes and on travels. It's okay for travels.... but for daily life, NO.</p>
<p>Unless you have an absolute reason for going to a Spanish speaking country where you already know the language, try something new. Usually programs where the language is difficult or not well offered in the States will be English-based with additional instruction in the language so you can learn your way around. Most popular countries generally required 4 semesters of their language because... it's just popular. So if you want to go to France, it's going to take some searching to find a program that will let you learn French from scratch rather than place you in a literature class (AUP does that). Otherwise, countries like Denmark, Egypt, Israel, Czech Republic, Poland, and Sweden will be fine because they'll offer language classes and teach regular classes in English.</p>
<p>First, write down your goals.
1) What's more important? Buffering your academic resume or take a risk and go out of your way to learn a brand new culture?
2) What kind of traveling do you want to do?
3) Climate? (Especially important if you go to a freezing cold school like Colgate...)
4) Interaction with the locals?
5) Finances- traveling and day-to-day living
6) Comfort of being the religious minority if you're not going to South America or Europe
7) CAN I REALLY DO THIS?!?!?</p>
<p>Feel free to PM me :)</p>
<p>PS-Stay in the country! Getting to know the people and all the little towns and mountains and lakes makes the country even more beautiful than you can ever imagine.</p>
<p>I'm studying abroad in London this year, and have been here for only about 3 and a half weeks. I chose a program through my school: they own a house in South Kensington, where about 40 of us live and take all our classes (one professor from our school came with us to teach a couple classes, and other classes are taught by local professors that my school brings in).</p>
<p>I absolutely love it so far. London is such a huge city I know that there will always be something for me to do. We only have classes Monday-Thursday, so we always have three days weekends to get out and explore. A couple weekends ago I went with a group to Scotland, and this past weekend I went to Amsterdam with a few friends. I've been going to a church nearby on Sunday evenings, and am planning on getting involved with the student group there.</p>
<p>We have a few big trips that everyone in the program goes on, but besides that are free to explore as we like. I have a small list of other countries I'd like to visit while here, but at the same time am planning on spending a good number of weekends in London to really get to know the city.</p>
<p>I don't really have much more to add, seeing as I've barely started my stay here. Still, just thought I'd throw in my two cents.</p>
<p>Is there ever the risk of doing a homestay program and ending up in an unsafe home?</p>
<p>lindz0722- I was trying to get in touch with you concerning your abroad program in Granada. I sent you an email through the forum about 10 days ago, but maybe you didn't get it or you have changed your email address.</p>
<p>My daughter is most likely going on the API Granada program in the spring and we have a few questions we would like to ask you. Could you either turn on private messaging here on CC or let me know here where I could contact you. With PM we could chat without clogging us this thread.</p>
<p>Hopefully you will see this message.</p>
<p>mj93 - I've heard that there is that risk, yes. However, I don't think the risk is too high, and if you find yourself in that situation, the program leaders can get you into a different place, as long as you talk to them. (The Swarthmore page someone pointed out earlier is a good read.)</p>
<p>I can add a couple of comments that might be useful. Although you've gotten some pretty good advice already here, I would recommend a couple of other things.</p>
<p>If you want to go to Spain or Latin America, one program has more options than any other, with extremely good support, and at a lower price than the programs mentioned - ISA. They go to 10 cities in Spain, and to Mexico, Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, Chile, Argentina, and Peru. Their website is <a href="http://www.studiesabroad.com%5B/url%5D">http://www.studiesabroad.com</a>. </p>
<p>Before you pick this program, or any other, compare them side by side in terms of cost and services, to see which one gives the best for the money. A great website for finding programs is <a href="http://www.goabroad.com%5B/url%5D">http://www.goabroad.com</a>, along with <a href="http://www.studyabroad.com%5B/url%5D">http://www.studyabroad.com</a>, and <a href="http://www.iiepassport.org%5B/url%5D">http://www.iiepassport.org</a> to search for all the programs out there. </p>
<p>My students have found that a host family is one of the best ways to improve your language skills, learn about the local culture, eat well, and be safe abroad. If you are the kind of person that can avoid the pitfall of hanging out with your American friends all the time, it may not matter what your housing option is. Going with a group can make it too easy to miss what is happening in your host country and makes you lazy by always speaking English with your American friends. </p>
<p>There's something really great about improving your language skills that you won't get if you just go to an English speaking country. Language is culture, and by learning a foreign language you will have to see things from another point of view. But the language will show you the way if you listen carefully. I think it's a richer experience. I've learned 6 foreign languages by living abroad and I think it's the best experience personally. But any program abroad is good. Just go!</p>
<p>I am interested in studying in Ghana, but I have some concerns. Some girls were raped on previous programs. Just how safe is Ghana with the malaria, HIV, and rape issues. Thanks.</p>
<p>My best advice I could give is to research the city you'll be spending the majority of your time in. I studied in Beijing and didn't do much research (stupid, I know) and to my surprise, learned that they're horribly racist in Beijing. I ended up leaving earlier and lost $20K.</p>
<p>The link at the beginning of the thread to Swarthmore's foreign study page is obsolete. Here's a new link to an excellent overview of study abroad options. There are other links from that page, including lists of excellent programs.</p>
<p>My only study abroad regret is that I didn't stay longer. IF I could do it all over I would've gone away for the full year. With a semester, just as you're beginning to get used to things, you have to leave.</p>
<p>There is absolutely no reason not to study abroad. The benefits are endless.</p>
<p>As far as programs go I personally recommend the School for International Training (<a href="http://www.sit.edu)%5B/url%5D">www.sit.edu)</a>. Their programs focus on cultural immersion and focused subject matter -- each one of their programs has a theme. For example, my program (in the Netherlands) was "International Perspectives on Sexuality and Gender". There are public health, social justice, education, environmental studies, multicultural studies, gender studies, arts programs, and even special themes like "State Building and Human Rights," "Migration Studies," "Pacific Islands Studies," etc. Each program (with the exception of a few) requires each student to do an independent study project that takes up the last month of the program. It sounds daunting but it is honestly the most rewarding part of the program and the part I learned the most from. They also have really good language training and place you in homestays with local families, which is awesome. Please, if your school accepts credit, check it out. It's a different experience from what most American study abroad students get. They also have intensive language learning programs in Morocco (Arabic), Spain, and France that don't have any prerequisites.</p>
<p>Host families facilitate language learning and cultural immersion. When your host family is sitting around at the table conversing in Dutch all day, you learn it a lot more quickly. At the end of my semester (before which I had never learned a lick of Dutch) I could follow a simple conversation and watch a movie subtitled in Dutch. The only other option I think might be cool is living in a dorm with other international students or mostly students from the host country. I wouldn't want to live an apartment alone or with other American students; I can do that at home.</p>
<p>As for language, I was in the same boat. I had taken French for several years, and a French-speaking country was my first choice (I actually applied for a program in Switzerland, but due to a mishap with a teacher recommendation the program closed before I got all my materials in) but in the end it didn't really matter to me. The international experience was great no matter what language I learned.</p>
<p>Oh, and don't ask yourself if you can do it. You can. You'll be kicking your own ass the first couple of weeks, but after you get over that hard spot the beauty of the experience will hit you. I'm not even kidding.</p>
<p>jeez, are you two getting a big comission from student universe? enough already. If I was a mod I would be checking your ip address to see if there is both a Jewel and a Paul. :)</p>
<p>Studying abroad depends on you. You first have to decide the reason why you want to study somewhere else either if you want to learn another language or you want to go to a better school. I´d recommend you to live in a place with a language that you are interested in learning because knowing a second or a third language is very much appreciated not only in colleges but when you start working. My best advice is to have your own apartment because it builds responsibility and independence. If you dont have the chance to live in your own apartment then a host family would be the second best option. Usually you join a plan were you choose a country and they locate a host family for you, which are usually very nice. Living in another country by yourself is an experience you will never forget and will help you build a better character.</p>
<p>Most likely you will go through these stages! Stages</a> of Immigration [: Losses in Translation :]</p>
<p>^ This is soo true, but if you are staying in the dorm I suggest this GET A MICROPHONE AND SKYPE. Skype is for free and it is the best thing ever! Then join a community online with people that speak your native language and where people speak the language that you are currently studying! For example, I'm studying japanese so on mixi joined a skype community dedicated to people that want to learn english and for english speakers that want to learn japanese! It works help and you get speaking practice! Also JOIN A CIRCLE AND CLUBS!! Also eat with a local everyday!!</p>
<p>My d's prep school prides itself on it international program.....but starting about two years ago, the students vanished. Students are finding that they need AP and advanced courses in Junior year to be ready for subject and AP test. College app / test prerequisites trumped international. </p>
<p>A semester abroad sound like fun, but not at the expense of the college that you get into.</p>
<p>I would love to study abroad, especially in Japan. The culture, history, scenery, technology, etc. of Japan all fascinate me.</p>
<p>Check out this article on studying abroad: College</a> Guidance Examiner</p>
<p>Kathiep: What would make you think I got a commission from SIT? I went there, and like any alumni of a program who had an amazing experience, I recommend it so other students can get the same, not for money. Not everyone in this world is driven by large sums of money. The truth is SIT was a great program -- not without its flaws, of course, but still good. And it's structured differently from most study abroad programs, which is why I think the alumni are so adamant about stumping for it.</p>
<p>I don't think you have to have a personal connection to the country before you go. I had no love for the Netherlands -- I really didn't know much about the country at all, or the city of Amsterdam -- but NOW I feel a connection to it. Sometimes I wish I had studied in the places I had really wanted to go, but didn't for various reasons (Japan, Brazil, Switzerland.)</p>
<p>If you haven’t already chosen a course I can recommend educating yourself through the first hand experience of students at MyLanguageTravel, which is a fun and easy way to find, recommend and talk about what’s great and not so great about your [language</a> immersion](<a href=“http://www.my-language-travel.com%5Dlanguage”>http://www.my-language-travel.com) and your study abroad program.That’s who I went through too. They reduced the lengthy comments I left to one sentence.</p>
<p>I attended a four week program in Paris. But before that I had a wonderful time experience and learning more about the courses through MyLanguageTravel. While I did this by myself, there were also fellow students from all over the world that came as friends or couples.</p>
<p>There are a lot of language schools out there, and it is hard to sort through the good and the bad. If you have a short time like two weeks, and want a language vacation, it is probably worth it to go through a reputable company.</p>
<p>Best of luck.</p>