Is this Study Abroad program worth it?

Applying to College
1

So I attend a cc and getting ready to transfer this fall. I decided to apply to a study abroad program for this summer through UW-Madison for 4 weeks and I got in! However, I could not get any financial aid help because my cc doesn’t fund study abroad programs from other schools. Additionally, I couldn’t receive a scholarship through UW-Madison because I’m not a degree seeking student. My last option was a student loan and I actually just got accepted for a private student loan today. My total cost comes out to ~ $9,500 (program costs, food, housing, airfare, miscellaneous, etc.). I’m just worried if this program cost is worth it. I’m worried about the long term consequences of borrowing this much money for such a short trip. Additionally I may have to take out another student loan when I transfer. This program is definitely going to look good on my CV as it relates to my career field in the future. I got picked from a good amount of student too and I’m excited, don’t get me wrong; however, its just so expensive…

Do you guys think it’s worth it? Would you pay this much money for a study abroad program that you know will look great on your application?

2

I would absolutely not borrow money for a 4 week study abroad program.

1 Like
3

Why does it look great, and why does it give you something that you can’t get at lower cost? Is it a foreign language in a foreign country where you plan to work in the future (or that has something very important for your career in the future)? Couldn’t you get an internship in that country? As someone who hires people, study abroad is always interesting on a resume, but work experience is more valuable than another class or two, and I’d think that there would be ways of doing an internship abroad–I did.

4

Why don’t you wait until next summer when you are a student at the 4 year school and see what kind of FA or grant you can get then? I would not advocate such a large private loan for one month’s study.

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5

No way. That is an outrageous amount to pay for FOUR WEEKS! A top tier private LAC is, at the most, $70K all-inclusive for the entire academic year. Why would anyone pay nearly 1/7 of that for FOUR weeks?

6

My sister did an EF Spanish study abroad program for 4 weeks for the fraction of the cost! Worth looking into their language programs.