<p>I will be attending Cal in 2 weeks (still can't believe it!!) and I really want to travel abroad, preferably while I'm in school. I have the oppotunity to study abroad during the Summer (next Summer) or study abroad for a semester and graduate a semester "late". I currently won't need to get student loans to finance my education, but if I decide to study abroad with either option, I will have to get about the same amount of student loan debt because I won't be eligible for financial aid for Summer travel-study and I will be short the same amount if I spent an extra semester in school. I was wondering if it would be better to study abroad, get the debt, but the experience as well or graduate debt-free and travel abroad once I get a job and save up some money to go abroad later. What do you think? Also, depending on your answer should I study abroad in the Summer for one month or pay the same amount to study abroad for a semester, but graduate in Fall 2011 instead of in the Spring?</p>
<p>as much as it pains me to know i will go further into debt studying abroad, i have made it one of my main goals to study abroad for a whole semester…as a transfer student, this is one of the few things i am really looking forward to! i know it is expensive, but to me it seems like the benefit will outweigh the cost in the long run…although i’m not sure about the graduating a semester later, if that does not bother then you, then i would say go for it! you can always travel abroad…but that is a lot diferent from studying. you can look at cal’s programs to see what they offer over the summer as well, some schools have special summer programs for particular majors.</p>
<p>Go to graduate-school debt free definitely. Travel later when you have time; by then you would have a steady job and sufficient funds, right? Seems practical to me.</p>
<p>Traveling somewhere definitely different than studying abroad for 4 months or so. At what other point in your life will you be able to go to another country and live for that long while still making progress with your life? There will ALWAYS be a reason as to why you shouldn’t, now will be better than trying to take a lot of time off from your job, especially if you’re trying to advance yourself in the company which will be likely. I am in the same spot as you and I’m almost for sure going to choose to go into some debt to experience studying abroad.</p>
<p>I did the UCLA travel study to Rome, it was one of the best summers of my life. You definitely should study abroad.</p>
<p>I’m going aboard to london this fall…I’m so excited!</p>