<p>Well, perhaps the LAC obsession on CC should be looked at in this context:Is it a limitation that all should consider when deciding “fit”…after a year or two when the little snug guppy is let loose in a cultural exchange program… perhaps the little homey LAC is left a bit wanting, in the context of our international, global world today. Just a thought…make sure an LAC education fits the kid, not the parents wish to continue a HS experience…or at least let’s not keep banging on the Research Uni as being inferior ( because they have lecture classes of 1,000,000,000) …Sorry, the the State systems get this rap and it just isn’t true unless a student comes in and has to do a lot of remedial…most come in as Soph’s, so it’s just not true)</p>
<p>I agree, I could move to Sidney in a minute if he US doesn’t pull it’s head out of the sand!!! Oh, and I went to a LAC myself, AND have traveled extensively and so have my children, to the beautiful grand cities and wonderful 3rd world countries and much in between. Of note, the grand sites of the US, which I have noticed are often over looked by US students/families. I learned at my LAC from many internationals, that Yosemite, the Grand Canyon, all the great cities, DC, Tahoe, the east coast- all of it is grand. So, I also focused my childrens travels from Boston to Bali, San Francisco to Sydney, France to Figi, Arizona national parks to African National Parks- and the list goes on.</p>
<p>This is why I always read with amazement when parents say they take no vacations, but rather live to pay for a top 10 Uni…to each his own, but education in a global world; it is not only limited to a top prep school which leads to an “Ivy” …oh, and you get to share these travel experience with your children rather than the school. Memories as a family for life, and it can never be taken away or over shadowed by college debt. Love it!</p>
<p>S1 studied in Thailand for his last semester in college (completed in 4.5 years). He walked at graduation in June and then was studying in Thailand for August - December. This worked out really well, and I recommend this as an alternative to the junior year abroad.</p>
<p>My D attends a LAC, son attended big state uni. Both were gone for a year, had no return problems. However, they had both been going to many countries since they were small children. Son has lived in the country he studied in since he graduated in 2003, D is planning to live there after graduation. Just something they had/want to do.</p>
<p>I don’t necessarily think it’s a big school/small school thing.</p>
<p>DD attended a well known top in the country state flagship. She enjoyed her semester abroad school more than her home school. She liked the sport team there (played varsity), she liked the people there, she just liked it better. Not the smaller or bigger thing, just a better fit. But she returned home and finished what had to be done, there was no option to stay at the other school and graduate abroad.</p>
<p>My older S loved his junior spring semester abroad, but he was also very happy to return to his rural LAC for his senior year. A significant portion of his class studied abroad, and at least among his close friends, my sense is that while they all matured as a result of their study abroad experiences, they also treasured the close community of the LAC they chose to attend. Senior year at a small LAC can be a really special experience too. Your S may have a different perspective by the end of his year abroad.</p>
<p>There was psychologist who worked with the Rotary exchange group sponsoring my D for her HS level and gap year exchanges. He talks about distinct phases in the study abroad year. Initial elation, then disappointment as they settle in, then gradually increasing identification with the host culture that crescendos over a period of months . Often by the time they are ready to come home, they are very much identifying with, and in love with the host culture. Re integrating the abroad year into life at home takes time. </p>
<p>My D loved her semester abroad, but is very happily back at her small town LAC. Another girl in our neighborhood who fell in love in her host country, ended up changing schools, and it has been a rough homecoming for everyone involved. </p>
<p>Lafalum, my S went to Barcelona on perhaps the same or a similar program, English based. He certainly had fun, but got far more out of a second semester abroad in S America, where he was in a language immersion program.</p>
<p>Another D just went to France. We’ll see how re integration to her LAC goes next fall. </p>
<p>Personally, I think if you’re a family that travels internationally with ease, aside from really working on language fluency, a full year abroad is not necessarily needed. It might be fun, but those years at high level colleges are incredible opportunities in themselves. My son loved his time abroad, but realized that while he could live abroad post graduation, that time in college is finite, precious and never to be repeated.</p>
<p>We, too, were another family who received information on ‘re-entry’ from D1’s school and it really helped to prepare us for some of her attitude. We didn’t really get that sort of information from D2’s school, but having gone through it with D1, we knew what to expect.</p>
<p>Momoschki – I am of Turkish heritage and I stayed with a family in Istanbul when I was in high school. Turkish culture has become more conservative since the '70s, but even then it wasn’t such a great place to be a woman. Very patriarchal, very conservative (and now even more so). Maybe he likes the traditional culture where men are accorded more respect. </p>
<p>I agree with SmithieandProud – some of this may wear off in time. </p>
<p>Also – he should be encouraged to listen to his dissatisfaction. Maybe he’s discovering he wants to live or work in Europe. </p>
<p>I think Great Lakes is right, if travel has been limited- the experience may be quite different. S1 did spend two months in Spain last summer, in an intensive language program with a travel component for culture and art, traveled 10 days by himself to other parts of Spain and to Morocco, came home for a “change of clothes” and left with 3 friends for a 3 week Bali surf escape. One friend who has never really traveled stayed behind in Bali for a semester- the other two- one who’s family lives in Italy and travels regularly, and one who has lived in Europe off and on in childhood, and was planning on working in Paris after he graduated- all came back to start school. When I picked them up at the airport all said they would were glad to be returning to their Jr. year at their Uni. They also felt the time on campus with friends was special and not to be wasted- because travel to South America, Asia and Europe has been a regular experience for all three- but College was their adventure right now. All are US born and raised.</p>
<p>D1 went to Sydney fall semster of Junior year. It was a great experience for her, and it did take her few weeks to transition back to US. That being said, she missed her friends and college. We are a family that traveled a lot, so it wasn’t that unusual or exotic for D1. She did miss a lot of US conveniences (unlimited internet, calling minutes, text)</p>
<p>One thing to keep in mind of anyone who is thinking about studying abroad Junior year, it is the year to look for that important junior summer internship, which often leads to permanent job. D1 had to sign up at her school’s career center, do some online training, before she was eligible to participate in campus recruiting. There was also a deadline to send in the resume. Some firms allowed students to apply in the fall if they were going abroad in the spring. Some of D1’s friends were not as organized and missed out on interviews.</p>
<p>I second (or third?) the observation that fairly extensive prior travel or living experience outside the US by a college student can reduce the love affair phase of spending a portion of college overseas.</p>
<p>I will also add that if the semester abroad is really the first time that the student has had near total autonomy this can add to the dissatisfaction upon return. In many countries a 20 year old is considered and treated much more as an adult rather than a big adolescent child.</p>
<p>I had a parent really “go off” on the fact that they never realized how much less parental contact and guidance their student would have when overseas. Their student was miserable upon return to college and the parents’ attempt to reimpose the old less independent habits. She ultimately took an overseas job out of college much to the continuing dismay of her parents.</p>
<p>“A friend is a professor/administrator at an LAC and says this happens often to students at small schools who return after a year abroad. He says that, yes, that final senior year often seems like a let-down.”</p>
<p>I have also seen this frequently. Your S should remember that on his brief visit back to his LAC, his classmates who are also doing a whole year abroad probably weren’t there. He may find a new group of friends for his senior year among those who had a similarly transformative experience as juniors.</p>
<p>Well, our D had very extensive travel and living abroad experiences before heading to Sydney. That did nothing to diminish her enthusiasm for living and studying there and her lack of enthusiasm for ultimately returning to the USA and her LAC for her final year. I think in her case it just comes down to preferences: she loves living in a large, vibrant city, loves the climate, loves being near beaches, and has found out that she prefers a large university to a small LAC. I was surprised to find her much more engaged in her classes in Sydney. I think for someone as well-travelled as she is, her small LAC is just too small.</p>
<p>She chose her LAC based on location (warm climate) and the fact that it is in a large city. She has since discovered that choosing the right city makes a difference! I’m not sure that she could have known that she’d prefer a large university before actually trying it.</p>
<p>My S’s experience was that his major at his small LAC seemed to have a special propensity to opportunities in Taipei. Therefore there was a continuity to this experience. Seniors who had been there the prior year related the experience to lower classmates who then did the same upon their return.</p>
<p>What I noticed about the lack of the “love affair” response of the more traveled students was a more balanced assessment of the positives and negatives of their overseas stay, including the overall experience not just the college experience. And, less “I now cannot stand the LAC.”</p>
<p>Well, it is still unclear in my mind whether the Turkish infatuation is merely that-- a passing phase, or whether it is a prelude to a decision post-college to live and work there. If I had to put money on it at this point, I would bet on the latter. S has traveled extensively himself prior to this experience and has been to Istanbul several times, but it is the place that keeps drawing him back.</p>
<p>In contrast, while he has been pleased for the most part with the academics at this LAC, it is in a small, very lackluster city that has little to offer. While there are still some college friends whom he values and keeps in touch with, I get the sense that they haven’t compared with the array of people he has met while he has been away.</p>
<p>Well, when he’s done with school, he can always head back. Maybe he should consider pursuing a Fulbright or other fellowship program in Turkey? Or working at a think-tank that specializes in US-Turkish relations?</p>
<p>Well, from one perspective, I can understand. I love Turkey, and I think that there is some objective truth to the superiority of Turkish food, mainly because they grow so much amazing food there. Of course, one gets a little sick of the Turkish superiority complex (not exceeded by the American superiority complex, but still) and you have to spend a long time in the country to get to feel the true oppression of the internal conflict of that country. But it is a truly invigorating, gorgeous place and the people are amazingly articulate and they love to talk politics, philosophy, art, and literature. Like in Russia, the European sensibility plus the Asian hospitality is an intoxicating combination (not to mention that Turkish women are HOT, don’t know if he told you, but they’re gorgeous, like the men). I don’t think his view is entirely subjective.</p>
<p><em>On the other hand</em>, his attitude sounds very typical of reverse culture shock. I think the best thing would be for him to meet other students with the same experience and speak with a counselor about it. If the school counselor hasn’t dealt with reverse culture shock, find someone who has. Emphasize to him that it’s not about making him stay here forever, it’s about helping him cope with how to get an education so he will be free to travel the world and work. Quitting is going to limit his long-term options.</p>
<p>The thing is, the love affair with Turkey will not be in this phase forever. Even if he decides he loves Turkey, he will still need a degree to work there. And then slowly he will see how many Turks treat women (at first, having feared the worst, he was probably amazed at how liberated Turkish women are… but Turks are Mediterraneans, need I say more? I’ve been a woman there, and while it’s respectful on the street, it’s different at home. I can only hope this would begin to bug your son as it bugs most of the intelligent men I know who spend time in that region.). The corruption and the suffocating atmosphere for real intellectuals. I wouldn’t mention that to him, of course, because it’s not like YOU spent a year there. Still, have confidence that he hasn’t found paradise.</p>
…Sorry, the the State systems get this rap and it just isn’t true unless a student comes in and has to do a lot of remedial…most come in as Soph’s, so it’s just not true)</p>