<p>Xiggi, I concur with nngmm about the cost of abroad programs. For some schools, they must be "profit centers", as the actual abroad tuition is often much lower than the tuition the U.S. school is charging. However, if a student receives substantial financial aid, it may not matter so much. At Smith, for example, any financial aid "travels with" the student on an abroad program. </p>
<p>However, for a "full pay" family, the economics may suggest an alternative route. My understanding of many abroad programs, particularly in Europe, is that the system is geared to much more independent study and fewer meetings with profs. (Perhaps that is why tuition is generally lower.) I saw no reason to be paying $20,000+/semester plus travel expenses for my D to study abroad, although I was willing to pay that for her semesters at Smith. Instead, my D used her AP credits to take a leave of absence for one semester of her junior year. She arranged her own abroad experience, worked in the country (China), got language training as part of her job, was paid a modest salary, got airfare reimbursement, and experienced the culture as few abroad students do. By leaving in the summer (June) and taking the fall off, she had over six months in the country and was able to travel on her own to Thailand and Hong Kong as well. Basically, it was a "do it yourself" abroad experience and she will graduate on time with her class while saving us one semester's costs.
I don't know why more people don't consider this alternative. Again, financial aid considerations would be a factor for some. But actually living and working in a foreign culture is so much more than sitting in a classroom with other students, many of them fellow Americans.</p>