<p>Hello everyone and thanks in advance for reading and offering any advice.</p>
<p>So I have decided to study abroad this summer term in a faculty directed type of program but I'm completely stuck on where to go. I've narrowed it down to the University of Lausanne in Switzerland, Cambridge, and multiple cities in New Zealand. I am an undergrad student at Arizona State, and I'm looking for three main things.</p>
<p>1) A big change. I absolutely love Arizona, but the way I figure it, go big or go home right?</p>
<p>2) Decent length. Cambridge's program is 6 weeks, Lausanne is 4 weeks, and New Zealand is 3.</p>
<p>3) Cost. Lausanne is the highest, followed by New Zealand, and then Cambridge.</p>
<p>So, unfortunately it would seem like each one has its own ups and downs based on what I'm grading them, but as you all know, these programs are so expensive I really want to do this right. If you guys think maybe I'm missing something, or have any experiences, I'd appreciate any advice.</p>
<h2>Welcome to the forum! I’m sure you’ll get plenty of opinions and advice about those places, but it may help to list which cities in New Zealand you’re considering. There’s also a handy “search this forum” button which will allow you to search all past threads for mentions of those cities or universities you’re interested in. </h2>
<p>From what you’ve posted, it looks like Cambridge is the best deal when it comes to price/wk. 3 weeks is FAR TOO SHORT to get a significant abroad experience. Switzerland would be awesome, but remember that the reason that program is so expensive is because the cost of living there is incredibly high, so you might struggle when it comes to buying necessities (or luxuries) for yourself over the course of the program as well.</p>
<p>My vote is for Cambridge-- it may not seem as exotic as your other destinations, but the amount of time you’ll spend there will hopefully allow you to become more intimately acquainted with the country, which will be a more rewarding experience in the end.</p>
<p>Are you perhaps considering a longer stint abroad later in your academic career? (I’d recommend it)</p>
<p>Thanks for the response. I agree with you about Cambridge and am 90% sure I’m going to end up going there. Part of my problem was that I didn’t know Switzerland was going to be so expensive, and I kind of got my heart set on going there. New Zealand sure looks incredible, but I think I’d rather stay in one spot for longer, and study at just one spot. But, Cambridge sure sounds great and am really looking forward to it.</p>
<p>I would love to Study Abroad further, but I had no real interest until a few months ago, and the reason I can study abroad is because I’m going to graduate a little early. (December instead of May) So it becomes a financial push.</p>
<p>It is funny though because I know ASU offers the exchange programs where you can still pay ASU tuition but live in another country. It sure would be something to study nearly a year in 2 different countries to end my undergrad. </p>
<p>I’ll need to do some more research, but thanks very much for the vote!</p>
<p>Wherever you go, by living abroad in authentic conditions for 3-6 weeks you will learn far more lessons than you could in 4 years of college classrooms, and you’ll broaden your perspectives and gain intercultural understanding. You will learn more sitting on the grass of a Cambridge college for 10 minutes than you would in a 2 hour seminar at your home university.</p>
<p>It will also make you extremely employable.</p>
<p>Have a look at how longs your weekends are at Cambridge. No lectures on Friday and/or Monday? Go to Switzerland for a weekend while you are there. Would that make the choice a bit easier? You could do it the other way round too, go to Switzerland and have a weekend away in England.</p>
<p>I don’t agree that doing a few weeks summer schools will make you anymore any less employable. So many people do such things now that they don’t make you stand out. However, I think you are likely to have a very enjoyable experience whichever place you choose, and it will be personally enriching. Once you have a job you are unlikely to have much vacation time for a few years to go on such an extended holiday. So if you can afford it, go for it now while you have the chance.</p>
<p>You are unlikely to be taught by any faculty at Cambridge or Lausanne. They will all be on holiday. At Cambridge they rent our their rooms (“Halls of Residence”, same as US dorms) to private companies in the summer to make money. It will likely still be a great experience, but it’s not like being an enrolled student there.</p>
<p>It will be winter in NZ in your summer, so school is likely to be in session and you might be taught with NZ students by NZ faculty. But check with your program as you might be kept entirely separate from directly enrolled students in NZ. Note that if you are going June-August, NZ is likely to be wet, cold and snowy. UK and Switzerland are also both likely to be much wetter and cooler than you are used to.</p>
<p>There is one big issue not yet mentioned which could be a deal breaker. Do you want to go to the Olympics? If so, this is your chance. </p>
<p>I don’t think you can make a bad choice here. Just choose one and have no regrets :)</p>
<p>The Olympics! That would be brilliant-- but it could also be an incredible downside, because London is going to be at maximum capacity (more so than with the regular summer tourist season) like a swollen Violet Beauregard from Willy Wonka…</p>
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<p>If it is still possible, take advantage of it if you can! It may seem strange to leave for your final semester(s), but some people choose to do that. We had a mini-graduation for the graduating seniors on my Denmark program last spring. If you won’t be heartbroken by missing ASU’s enormous graduation ceremony, think about finishing your last requirements up elsewhere…</p>
<p>Or even if that is too much of a stretch, there are ways to go abroad after you graduate. Your international programs office might be able to give you more information on programs like Fulbright, or opportunities to teach English abroad.</p>
<p>Thanks for the advice all, I appreciate it!</p>
<p>I am curious since we’ve had two viewpoints, is studying abroad (especially only for a few weeks) make you much more employable? This is certainly one of the main things for Cambridge, with it’s enormous name recognition. I really don’t want to just make it seem on a resume like I’m some rich kid who basically just went on vacation. It does make sense though how its only for a few weeks.</p>
<p>I don’t know, I signed up and was put on a waiting list so I have a good chance of making the decision moot regardless. I’m kinda bummed, was the second time I had pretty much had my bags packed.</p>
<p>Regardless, I am planning on still going somewhere, hopefully it will be somewhere for when I get back, it won’t just be like being back from vacation.</p>
<p>What you get from it has everything to do with how you approach it, and how other people see it after has everything to do with how you present it.</p>
<p>I put my study abroad experience on my resume, and sometimes in interviews I receive questions about it-- “oh, were you just there for a couple weeks?” “No, actually I was there for 4 months taking classes with local professors, learning the language, living with a family, etc” It can be a conversation starter. Like you said, Cambridge has name recognition, so people may ask about it and be curious, and how you present it is up to you.</p>
<p>It will make you vastly more employable, because it is such a rare, unique, and unusual activity. You might find that some very large employers like IBM and investment banks don’t favour you because you have studied abroad for 3 weeks, but that it because they are just jealous or ignorant.</p>
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<p>This is good news! It shows you how prestigious and exclusive the programme is.</p>
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<p>Of course not! No American ever goes to Cambridge on vacation. Nobody would ever confuse 3 weeks in Cambridge in the summer, watching plays and going on tours, with a vacation. Those who would are just jealous of your international experience!</p>