<p>My daughter’s school fee is 4500, then you pay the other school’s fee. Not sure what I will be getting for that fee yet. We have to find housing for our daughter and everything else.</p>
<p>Would his school approve of a study-abroad program through either Butler or Arcadia University? They were suggested by S’s school when their own study-abroad options weren’t going to work out for him. I don’t know what kind of premium they charge, but know they have tons of offerings.</p>
<p>Older son did a semester abroad last year that was roughly $5k cheaper than his “home” school. We paid the semester abroad program directly, a $400-500 “leave” fee to his home school and his airfare ($500). He did need to get approval from his home school - filling out a petition with an essay explaining why this particular program and justifying each class he would take. There are many study abroad programs in Europe that are cheaper than what the typical US college costs - you should look into these programs and see if your son’s home school will approve them - schools will often approve additional programs not on their current list if you lay out an academic rationale. My son spent a good portion of the $4K savings on travelling - but not all of it; the discount airlines are great ($49 roundtrip to Barcelona for a weekend on RyanAir!) and hostels are also very cheap and many hostels are very nice places to stay.</p>
<p>I’d rather not have him go to Latin America, and he’s liked the idea of Spain (his language) or maybe London School of Economics (his major). He took a course in history & culture of Spain his frosh year and was intrigued with the country. Also he’s a skier, and I think he’s hoping to arrange some time to get himself into the Pyrenees or the Alps.</p>
<p>I have heard that there are some nice hostels to be found; my friend’s daughter has stayed in some and she’s got pretty high standards about lodging. But for some reason they have flown to most of their weekend jaunts instead of taking the train, I think that has added to the cost.</p>
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<p>LSE does not offer a single semester study option. All students must spend a full academic year (October to July) at the London School of Economics and Political Science.<br>
The only option for less than a year is LSE’s Summer School program.</p>
<p>I have now heard of several students who took a semester leave Soph year from their college and did a study abroad through their hometown community college. Much less expensive.</p>
<p>The reason they fly is because often times Ryan Air is much cheaper (and certainly faster) than the trains.
My kids’ study abroad experiences in Europe have been the highlight of their college careers - and they both love their colleges.</p>
<p>Not for me. My daughter IS traveling around – but that part is on her dime. She managed to arrange to work her full year’s work study allotment in the fall, so she was able to save up extra. </p>
<p>Technically, I would be paying less overall because housing expenses abroad are less than the dorm fees on her campus – but I pay the cell phone charges & we opted for an upgrade to a blackberry with an unlimited data plan, which is kind of pricey in terms of the monthly charge (but well worth the expense).</p>
<p>Travel was/is also on my kids’ dime(s). Food tended to be more because of eating out more than usual. A lot depends, of course, on the exchange rate of the time. I had heard that London would be impossible to even find a hamburger that is affordable, but my son has managed to find reasonable places to eat, overall. The phone planes can be very pricey. In France, the kids all used Skype with one another rather than the phone. And of course it’s best to use Skype to call home if possible.</p>
<p>Re phone issues…D in Australia ended up getting a local phone for her 6 months there for local stuff. We used Skype with great success for FREE. It worked exceedingly well although we only used it for “phone calls”. Some folks I know hooked up the camera so they could see each other, which is also pretty cool.</p>
<p>S1 studied in Thailand. When choosing where to study abroad, he eliminated Europe pretty early on due to the poor dollar exchange rate. Asia was much more reasonable. He was able to travel extensively (on his dime). The cost of the semester program, including food, apartment, and air flight was pretty much equivalent to his at-home costs.</p>
<p>The big extra cost was S2 and I joining him in Thailand for a 3 week trip.</p>
<p>Another option to consider is the timing of going abroad. My son did a semester-long program after his 4th year instead of during his 3rd year. I think the added maturity was a benefit, and it also made it easier to find the 1 course he needed to graduate and flexibility in the choice of program.</p>
<p>D did study abroad to Ecuador. We paid her home university stuff and plane ticket. All other travel money was up to her. She went everywhere. South America is quite affordable.
(Her home university included a 1 month language course, a trip to the Galapagos, and a couple of other excursions, all covered by the tuition. All scholarships and FA applied as well)</p>
<p>S is currently studying abroad in England (full year). The dollar has become stronger since he’s been away, thank goodness. We pay home university tuition and room; food is pay-as-you-go at his particular college. Luckily S is not a big eater. We were able to use frequent flyer miles for 2 round trip air fares. Thanks to Ryanair, Eurail, and cheap hostels, son has done quite a bit travelling. Most of this expense came from summer savings, but we also contributed as part of his birthday present. All in all, yes, study abroad can be more expensive. However, for S, it has been a phenomenal experience and he realizes that he may never have the opportunity or the time to do this again. Sadly, the extra expense means DH and I will probably be unable to go visit him!</p>
<p>D is in Sweden this semester. It was about $2,000 more for the semester for tuition/room & board that for her State U back home. She is spending her own money traveling, and has found some wonderful deals. It has been a life changing experience for her, and we will meet her in a little over a month and do some traveling together as a family. Skype has been a great way to communicate with her. The University itself included a SIM card for calling within Sweden (it also worked in Italy, but not in Germany). We just unlocked her phone before she left, and off she went.</p>
<p>Semester abroad programs are a bit of a scam, it’s big business for schools. There ARE cheaper options out there, but the trick is to have your child’s LAC grant credit for classes taken at other school. Often the ‘home’ institution will refuse, saying they can’t vouch for the ‘quality’ - but actually, they want the money themselves. This is especially the case with privates. If we’re talking about public schools, it’s pretty hard for accredited university A refuse to accept credits earned at another accredited university B. But the privates do what they can to keep their students going on their own (overpriced) programs.</p>
<p>D1 spent a semester in London two years ago. As far as expenses, her room was actually cheaper, as she shared a flat with five other girls. Food was probably a bit more than had she been on campus here in the states. </p>
<p>Extra traveling is where the expenses added up. But as someone upthread mentioned, Ryan Air is very cheap. Before she went, I bought her a book on European hostels that was published by MTV. Daughter used that quite a bit and was pretty satisfied, minus one experience (their first, and they learned from it). Remember that often times, they will also have friends studying abroad in other European countries at the same time, so when they go to visit them, they have a place to stay, which also cuts down on traveling costs (of course, they then have to reciprocate when their friends want to come see them!). </p>
<p>D2 will be going to London in the fall, but she will be living in a dorm. The room/board/tuition costs will be the same as if she were here (as was with D1). She, too, will have friends studying in other European countries, and I know, will visit each other, saving on accommodations when they travel.</p>
<p>One other thing to be aware of, DD went abroad for only a term not a year due to issues with transferring, most school promise the study abroad units will transfer and they will, BUT one’s MAJOR also has the choice to use them to fulfill requirements or not. DD did not need extra units, she needed to check of the GE & major requirements, Because it was junior year, she had most of her GE done and her major would only accept 2 courses, so no way to stay another term and not get off her schedule.</p>
<p>Our d was in England last summer, and we gave her the full budget of her food, travel, spending $$ to manage, and told her that if any as left, it would be hers when she came home. We also talked through some travel on weekends being good, i.e., ryan air cheap flights and train pass travel within England and Scotland. She ended up doing 3 weekend trips. But we pointed out and d did see that flying to Italy for the weekend was expensive and you can’t do Italy justice in a weekend; especially when sometimes for the same price you could have a week at the end of your porogram…in other words, we advised against expensive weekends. She travelled alot, just wisely.</p>
<p>She came home with 25% of the original budget. I think the secret was that it was HER money.</p>
<p>S is going to be on a college-sponsored term in Paris this fall, which includes a homestay living situation. Does anyone have any experience with spending money expectations? He’s frugal, but Paris is going to be a lot more expensive than Hanover, NH!</p>
<p>Consolation, D#3 went to Paris in April-high school trip, which was a homestay living situation. We thought her classmate & she would be ONLY ones in the home, and that the family (couple, it turned out to be) would speak English. Turned out the French couple did not speak English & D#3 & her friend did not speak French! Also at one point during the vacation, at least 9 girls were staying in this house! D#3 thought perhaps this couple was doing this for the money, seeing as they took so many girls into their home! The other girls came from Holland, but spoke French & English & were able to translate! </p>
<p>In Paris, D#3 only bought cheap souvenirs & did eat meals out, but her only complaint was coffee and bread for breakfast! (not like us Americans) Had a good time though! Just watch out for these home stay situations, it may not be what it is advertised! </p>
<p>D#1 went to Florence, Italy through UCONN & loved it, had a great experience and got 6 credits in 6 weeks and was able to travel on the weekends to other locations! She had some money of her own, it worked out OK-it was a summer session & she liked the idea of 6 credits in 6 weeks & in Italy! She did get a cell phone through a company & then mailed it back when she got back to the states. UCONN had recommended this company for European travel, as our cell phones don’t usually work in Europe. </p>
<p>Sometimes I think the colleges want your child to go abroad because that frees up housing & a spot in the classroom for someone else! Ka-ching! Colleges are a business!</p>