My parents can’t afford the experience abroad for a year and it would be impossible for me to do since I’m planning to double major in Econ/Poly-Sci.
The problem I have with only studying abroad for a semester is that I wouldn’t be fully immersed in the culture and three-four months isn’t a lot of time. Is it even worth it then?
Many many people go abroad for a semester and have a great experience. I’d go for it.
Are you in high achool or in college now?
Would this be in your high school senior year or in your college senior year?
There is no reason to feel that it is necessary to do an exchange during high school. However, if you do want the experience even a relatively short time abroad such as a summer or one semester while not as extensively immersive as a full academic or calendar year can still be a good experience. Especially if you have never had a chance to travel.
Once you are in college, depending on the choice of study abroad program, it is likely that the cost of attendance will be the same as a semester or year at your college because it will be set up through your college. Any financial aid you get while on campus should also apply to the exchange semester or year. Money shouldn’t be so much of an issue.
Sorry, should have specified. I’m a sophomore in college.
My daughter got a LOT out of studying abroad in high school for one semester. And she’s looking forward to being in Florence, Italy next year for a semester. You should go for it!
I know someone who went to Italy for 2 months during the summer and came back at a near-native level in Italian. And some people go away for a year and live with other Americans and do everything in English and come back having had a fun year abroad without cultural/linguistic immersion. The experience is really what you make of it.
My daughter only went for 12 weeks and loved it. It was cheaper than the cost of going to school on campus.
In a word, yes. It’s worth it.
Yes, it is worth it. My kid did a semester in a Scandinavian country, and it was very immersive for her.
I did a study abroad program in India for a semester - and if I recall most of the study abroad options offered at that time were semester rather than year long programs. You can get a lot of exposure in a semester - you can even add in the summer before the semester starts if you wanted to.