<p>My son was recently accepted at Arcadia University which has a study abroad for a group of freshman in either Scotland or England. Arcadia</a> University - First Year Study Abroad Experience FYSAE He's been invited to apply to that program. I have mixed feelings about it, as does my son. Son loves to travel and has been abroad, that's not a worry. What we're wondering about is if he would miss out on the normal first weeks bonding time and getting to know the area or if that works out because he would be doing that second semester with all the other abroad students. Is it too crazy to start college so far away? </p>
<p>If he ends up at Arcadia, there is little chance that he won't go abroad so this won't be his only opportunity but it would use up a bunch of the core curriculum classes - that's a good thing because he knows his major. I think it just sounds so neat and I'm afraid my views are coloring any objectivity. </p>
<p>Has anyone had a son or daughter do this? What's the downside?</p>
<p>Brandeis has a first-semester abroad program, too. We know someone who is in London with the program now and absolutely loving it. Was on the barricades for the HP premiere last week and got autographs.</p>
<p>I agree with fendrock, seems like my 4 kids all made friends those first few months of Freshman Year. You know, even anxious to get back that Sunday after Thanksgiving. (at least my 3 D’s were, S is still Freshman) </p>
<p>Does Arcadia have a January Orientation Program for these Freshmen who participated in this? I know that some schools are now doing “Mid Year Admits” & so are into these January Orientations & social activities.</p>
<p>My best college friends were the ones I met during the first few weeks of freshman year.
I guess it depends how many other people were doing the “abroad” program and how much support they get when they get back. Most professors/RAs might treat all students like you have been at college for a semester by then, not just like it is all brand new to you.</p>
<p>I remember seeing some other college with this program, too, but I can’t remember which one.</p>
<p>Even from a social standpoint, I’m not certain it’s such a problem to skip the freshman first semester. Many people I know, and especially my kids and spouse, spent most of their first-year springs untangling themselves from the friends they made out of pure random proximity during the frenzied first few weeks of college. That’s a great way to meet people, and a terrible way to meet people with whom you actually have anything in common. Sometimes it works out great – I am still friends with some of my first-week friends. But often not. Coming in late may be a bit more awkward, and require a bit more work on the student’s part, but I think the student will get to the same or better place by the end of the year.</p>
<p>My instincts tell me that it’s better for a student to study abroad later in the college years.
I think it’s easier to acclimate to college when everyone is in the same boat. Freshmen are all new and looking to make new friends. A really outgoing, confident kid could probably come in sophomore year and break in, but it would be harder for a more introverted kid. I also think a year sounds like a long time for a freshman to be away. </p>
<p>If your son is really interested in this program, maybe he can talk to some students who went last year, to see how things worked out.</p>
<p>I know a kid who was accepted to Middlebury’s “Feb admit”. At first, he was quite distraught, but it all worked out. That fall semester, he had a wonderful time in Europe on student rates. Loved it. He entered in Feb and immediately got into the groove. Now he tells me he’s happy everything fit.</p>
<p>My thinking is your closest friends would be the ones that go on the abroad with you. They do have an early orientation on campus and then some sort of round up after they get back. I remember them saying at an admissions event that they are aware of the social awkwardness of the return and have some things in place to minimize that. What they were, I can’t remember. After I posted I looked a little bit more at the link and noticed that they also offer a second semester freshman year abroad. I kind of like that because then you could maybe stay a few more weeks into the early summer and do some traveling.</p>
<p>Oh, well. Just doing some exploratory research. Since son has more Colleges to hear back from, this may well be a moot point in a few months. I’m asking because he has to fill out his application soon if he wants to go.</p>
<p>I’ve heard that those who are abroad first semester Freshman year are lifelong friends beyond “regular” Freshman friends. They remain close when they get back to the main campus in the winter term so there’s no lack of friends and then they branch out like the other Freshman. You might want to speak with some who have already experienced it at Arcadia.</p>
<p>kathiep, just my 2cents, but I’d wait and give your son more time to explore the vast array of study abroad opportunities and decide what he’d like to gain from the experience. To be honest, I’m not a fan of U.S. campus based, faculty-led programs. In my experience, these are usually the most expensive options, yet afford the least immersion in a foreign culture. Students tend to primarily associate with one another, rather than with students and residents of the foreign country. I also saw that Arcadia’s program destination is Britain, which U.S. students are certain to find more familiar than “foreign.”</p>
<p>I know someone who did this at Colby – spent the first semester in Spain. She bonded with the other students in Spain and had a fantastic time. She is a very social kid – I think the adjustment second semester was a little rocky, but she had her friends from the Spanish program to hang out with, and she soon made other friends. It worked out for her.</p>
<p>Thanks for the links loveday, but I wasn’t asking about study abroads in general. This is my third child and my other two did study abroads when they were in College. I understand how they work and that traditionally they are done Junior year. I was hoping to hear from parents that had first hand experience or like fireandrain, limabeans and amtc knew of students that did a first year abroad. My oldest son bonded a little too much with the local students during his abroad and didn’t even leave England the whole four months - or his English girlfriend. Now that he’s graduated he’s going back to Europe to see what he was missing. </p>
<p>Son has been offered pretty good merit aid so he’ll be exploring the campus and this option a little more.</p>
<p>loveday, Sorry for being so snippy. I’m blaming the colleges that have not yet accepted son for my being wound just a little too tight these days!</p>
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