I’m really interested in studying abroad in Korea my sophomore year for two, consecutive semesters. I’m currently a senior in HS (I know, I may be asking about this too soon), but I want to start planning ahead of time. So, I have a few general study abroad questions if anyone here w/ personal insights can answer for me
Can university financial aid and federal grants be applied to the study abroad cost? For example, if my school offers me 40K in grants, could I use this 40K to fund my study abroad costs (since I'm planning on studying abroad for a whole year)?
Is it true that studying abroad will make you graduate late in most cases? I know it can depend on the credits offered, but is this usually the case?
I'm planning on studying abroad my second year of college, but is this even possible to do your sophomore year? Or is it only allowed for juniors/seniors? Would sophomore year not be an ideal time to study abroad?
Lastly, how was your study abroad experience? How has it helped you?
First and foremost: it depends a lot on your school and your major.
*nobody will give you the grants/fin aid to just spend, but lots of places will apply that funding to the costs of studying abroad, so that your net out of pocket stays the same. In most cases this means doing the study abroad through the school you attend or through school-approved study abroad programs. *
It matters a lot what course you are studying and how tied into your college the study abroad program is. There is simply no way to answer that generically, but it is a good thing for you to research when you are choosing which college to go to. In general, STEM subjects are harder to stay on track with, but it can be done.
*again, it varies by school, but Junior year is by far the most common year to study abroad. Remember that there are 2 sides to this conversation: what your school allows v what students do. You may have everything planned out in your head- but you genuinely have no idea what your priorities are going to be a year from now- when you will be applying for study abroad programs. If all your pals are going Junior year you may prefer to wait. *
The answers to your first three questions are sometimes and maybe. Whether your financial aid applies depends on the type of study abroad program you enroll in. It’s also possible to choose a study abroad program that fits your budget without using your financial aid, depending on your personal financial situation. You won’t necessarily graduate late but it depends on your major and how carefully you plan your course of study. Best advice is to visit the study abroad office at the school you enroll in, early in your first semester, and plan carefully. Yes you can study abroad sophomore year. My daughter did, although she had junior standing at that point. This may also vary by school and your personal situation.
Since you have a particular country in mind, and want to spend a year abroad, you should contact the study abroad offices at whatever schools you are considering and make sure they have a program like that available, and get an idea of how it works. Not every school works with every study abroad option, and you need to plan very carefully to ensure studying in Korea is available to you.
As an aside, University of Wyoming has a very strong and supportive study abroad program, with lots of funding available. A friend of my daughter attends, and spent her sophomore year in Europe and Russia. Lots of extra scholarships.
Other responders commented on how it might depend on your major as to whether you can graduate on time. I just want to add that once you get to college and you’re figuring out your major, you’ll have to carefully look at the co-requisites and pre-requisites for your classes, and when those classes are offered. You might find, for example, that you will have to be at your US school in the Fall semesesters in order to get in certain required classes that are only offered at that time. So maybe you go to Korea Spring of Sophmore year and Spring of Junior year in order to get your full academic year abroad. Or maybe you take that co- or pre- requisite course during the summer so you stay on track to graduate on time.
There are some “study abroad” programs that do not fit the usual mold. For this reason your study abroad question may not be too early and actually could be too late as most application deadlines have pasted.
My university has over fifty study abroad locations in over 31 countries. Every student automatically receives a credit of $5000 to participate in any off-campus project research centers. They work only on that project solution for seven weeks with a research team. The research project is a degree requirement, but it is not a requirement that it be done off campus. Last I heard about 60% participate in an out of country location. See https://www.wpi.edu/project-based-learning/global-project-program.
Agree that it is much more common to study abroad junior year. Mykid wanted to study abroad in an unusual country, and it was definitely beneficial to go to the study abroad offices during campus visits.
Not sure if your stats or major, but you might look at Dickinson. They are particularly supportive of study abroad, and have a Korea program.
I really think that studying abroad is an amazing thing and everyone should do it. Although it can be expensive, you learn so much about yourself when being on your own and good to another country and is an amazing experience
My freshman son is taking an Intensive Summer Language Program in Taiwan this summer. He plans to spend another semester abroad in China. It wouldn’t surprise me if he did another Intensive Language during a summer, even if he couldn’t apply the credits to his degree.
