Im trying to get my mom to let me study abroad for my whole freshman year of college. I know that probably the last thing you want to do for freshman year but the program I could possibly get into has so many amazing opportunities for my major and the college I’ll transfer into is amazing too. I love to travel and I really rather study abroad then go to college back home
What are your mom’s concerns?
Is the study abroad program through a college? Will you then be a traditional transfer applicant? That could significantly impact both acceptance rate and financial aid.
Is there a reason why you couldn’t go abroad later in your college career?
Are you able to finance this year abroad?
Are you able to tell us either what university you would be going to, or what country and city you would be going to? More information would make it easier for people to give useful comments.
Knowing what your mother’s concerns are might also be useful.
We had very good experiences with study abroad programs in high school. One daughter went abroad for a semester, and we hosted two exchange students (one at a time). It was very positive and I think that all three students went home a bit more confident with a broader view of the world and with friends in other continents. We also are having very good experiences with a daughter currently studying “slightly abroad” – by which I mean in Canada. We live in the northeast of the US but not all that far from eastern Canada.
There are quite a few universities that now offer the 1st year on an international campus, and in some cases the admissions odds for the same university are better if you apply to the international campus- and you still end up back at the home campus. If it’s one of those programs, it’s pretty well integrated.
This is a variant on that, based at the American University of Paris, which a number of colleges (including USC and GW) offer to students who were rejected, but are being given a 2nd chance. You go to Paris, do your 1st year and if you do well enough (usually a specific GPA) you are guaranteed a place at GW for sophomore year.
It’s a perfectly safe and reasonable way to do go.
At FSU, you pay in-state tuition the last 3 years if you agree to spend freshman year in one of their overseas programs.