<p>Hi,</p>
<p>I was just wondering if Colgate only offers semester-long study abroad programs, because that's what I've been finding. I'd prefer to go abroad for a year, so would it be possible to do 2 different semester programs or are they all in the spring? What about doing it through a partner program with another school? Does it complicate/facilitate things if you're a language major or minor?</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>Study abroad is not just in Spring. Colgate has both Fall and Spring study abroad programs, but I don't know if they have any programs that span both. I don't think that most 'Gaters want to spend their whole Junior year away from campus anyway.</p>
<p>You can go with another program with advance approval from your department, but if you do, any financial aid you have directly from Colgate won't apply, you need a Colgate program for your grants to apply. </p>
<p>A number of the programs have language requirements so that would help, but could also limit the places you can go if that program is in a language you have no facility in.</p>
<p>Thanks so much. Do you go to Colgate?</p>
<p>My daughter will be a senior this fall</p>
<p>it's definitely possible to go abroad for a full year, though most people don't want to be away from campus that long. you can go on both colgate and outside programs, though your financial aid is only guaranteed to cover 1 full semester on a colgate program, though you don't pay colgate tuition at all for the semester spent with a different program. </p>
<p>what language you're interested may make a big difference, as each language program has different requirements (1, 2 or 3 years of study before going). if you're a language major, you may run into problems completing your courses if you're abroad elsewhere and not on campus to take the classes, though you can probably work out a program to keep up on your own if you talk to the department - i've known several people who did so.</p>
<p>what programs would you be interested in attending, and which language?</p>
<p>I'd definitely pursue French, either as a minor or a double major, or International Relations, in which case French would be a part of it. I know Colgate has a program in Dijon, but I'd like to keep my options open -- I don't know if I'll develop a special interest in another Francophone country...
And what do you mean, that you wouldn't pay Colgate tuition for another program - that you'd pay that school's tuition?
Thanks.</p>
<p>There's the program in Dijon, as well as an IR program in Geneva that has French as a component.</p>
<p>If you go with Colgate, you pay just about the same as a semester on campus, and your financial aid package is the same. Some programs have some extra fees (for example living expenses in Japan are much higher than the US, so it's a few thousand more), but your financial aid will be adjusted proportionally.</p>
<p>If you go through a non-Colgate program, you're technically on a "leave of absence" for that semester and you don't pay Colgate tuition. You'd pay whatever school/program you're going with whatever their costs are. If you go with a decent college or university, your credits will probably be approved for transfer (this depends of course on the program itself and the department at Colgate), and you won't have any problems with not having enough credits (all Colgate programs are 4 credits, exactly like being on campus). I hope that helps?</p>
<p>It's doable! I've heard very few Colgate students do it- they do one semester on a Colgate program and another with another Colgate program or another study abroad program. The kick is the residency requirement of being affiliated with Colgate for 7 semesters, which is why you can only do ONE semester with a non-Colgate program and people combine.</p>
<p>In reality, people have such wonderful time at Colgate and really enjoy the campus, their friends, and life (and responsiblity for social orgs and majors) that it's hard to go away for a whole year. I know three people who went away for the entire year and it was quite difficult for them to adjust to Colgate after a year away in their senior year. Colgate just has this structure where it's virtually difficult to do a junior year abroad and achieve a senior position in a student organization as a senior so by your sophomore year, you'll need to decide what your priorities are. For me, as much I wanted to be the president for one of my organizations that I cared about, I wanted the experience of being in a different coutnry and living in another culture. As a student, it was a little hard to believe it but now as a graduate, I'm glad that I made that choice, given my current path. Colgate students are that much of social animals! :)</p>
<p>Now, it is definitely very important, not just at Colgate but at any school you decide on, to get your foreign language requirement done early. Many programs, including Colgate's, require at least 4 semesters of that language. Some students opt to wait until the summer before their sophomore year to take an intensive summer course so that they can enjoy their first year and get caught up in a timely manner. What I've heard about Dijion is that they're actually struggling a little to get enough students to go on it because of its location that the French department was willing to let students who finish 3 semesters of French to go as sophomores.</p>
<p>When you go on a non-Colgate program, as I did, you take an "Academic leave of absence" and pay NO tuition except for a $500 deposit to hold your spot. So it's virtually cheaper, thankfully, especially if you choose a program in the Middle East, South America, or Eastern Europe. You do need to write a petition explaining what you want to do and why and how it relates to your Colgate education. It's not all that difficult but it's a matter of priority. The applications for the spring semester are three times the number of those for the fall because A) Students want to get out of the cold and snow or B) Leadership responsiblities. I used academic reasons to get a spring leave- a specific course being offered in the fall that would count for my major and minor. So if you don't want hassles, just apply for the fall and you're good to go for a non-Colgate program.</p>
<p>Now, for languages... if you're with a Colgate program, you'll be fine because you're still following their language program. However, if you go elsewhere where the language is studied very intensively as in Arabic, Hebrew, or Chinese (examples), you may find difficulty trying to keep up with it upon your return. I had that problem with Hebrew- I placed out of all of the available Hebrew courses and ended up doing independent study with the instructor. It totally sucked doing it once a week. I've heard the same for Chinese and Japanese language students- they were placed in the highest level and were dissatisfed with other students' abilities compared to theirs. But that's part of going to a LAC with limited language course offerings compared to a large university which will also have graduate level courses.</p>
<p>I hope all this information helps. I know so much because I had to really learn the ins and outs of the study abroad in order to petition successfully as a transfer student asking for a spring leave to a non-Colgate program.</p>
<p>Wow, that's incredible. Sorry it took me such a long time to respond, and MANY thanks!</p>
<p>Their London study groups abroad look wonderful! I would love to participate in them, not have to worry about another language, yet would still be able to experience living abroad and in such an exciting and vibrant city!</p>
<p>i want to do something in spain</p>