When, where, and what to study abroad?

<p>The number one regret I hear from college graduates is that they wish they studied abroad.</p>

<p>Is it best to study abroad in the Fall, Winter, Spring, or Summer? Anyone have any insight on this? I was thinking that it may be difficult to do it during the school year because you are losing time getting credits.</p>

<p>Also, is there a specific place to study abroad. I know some programs require you take have taken some courses in the language and others don't. I don't know if it's worth it to take the language beforehand if I don't plan on majoring in it.</p>

<p>Finally, is it possible if I actually take language classes at the country I'm going to? What courses are typically offered in a study abroad?</p>

<p>Basically, I'm looking for some people who had one and can share their experiences. Thanks =)</p>

<p>I would strongly recommend studying abroad during the school year. If you go during the summer, I don’t see how you would have the opportunity to integrate into normal student life at that university (All the full-time students would be home for the summer, and you would be stuck with only those in your study abroad program.) Depending where you go, you should be able to take courses that will contribute towards your major at your home university. </p>

<p>I’ll give you my personal experience just for reference. I’m a third year biology major, currently studying abroad in Scotland. I’m taking two biology courses (both of which will transfer back to my home university at 300-level courses, and a lab), as well as a German course. Obviously, i’m studying abroad for the spring semester and i’m glad i chose to do so for a couple reasons. Mainly, my experience is extended by a month compared to the people who came here for fall semester, because our spring break is a month long. Of course, this will vary based on the university you choose.</p>

<p>I think in most cases, you’re required to have a certain amount of prior knowledge of the language if you plan to go somewhere that isn’t English speaking. I would personally only go to non english-speaking country if i were basically fluent in the language, or good enough to take courses in that language. Otherwise you will probably be in separate classes that only include study abroad students, which I think takes alot away from the experience. </p>

<p>Alot of this depends on the specific program you go through, whether it be directly through your school, or something like Butler/arcadia/IES.</p>

<p>Hope this helps.</p>

<p>Thank you so much for your feedback! I’m thinking about majoring in biology too and didn’t realize that those kind of classes may be a possibility.</p>

<p>Absolutely. Of course, it is a bit tougher for us science/engineering-folk to do study abroad, since we tend to have more requirements than the liberal arts. One thing i would recommend doing ASAP is to check with your school on how most students study abroad. Some unis in America are not so study abroad friendly, and make students take a leave of absence, and other nonsense like that. Some unis also have direct partnerships with abroad schools, so your choices are more limited. Others will use programs, like i mentioned before. Often, how your school handles study abroad will determine how easy it is to transfer credits from abroad back towards your major.</p>

<p>If you decide you definitely want to do it, get started on the process as early as you can. I have friends that waited until last minute, and it became extremely stressful for them.</p>

<p>Studying during the academic year is, IMHO, better. Even if you don’t go to a regular university at the program, if you study abroad during the academic year, you can take your financial aid with you in most cases. If you study abroad during the summer, you will have to find your own finances for the endeavor.</p>

<p>You don’t lose time getting credits – most study abroad programs will give you credit. You just need to arrange your classes so that if you can’t take any major classes while you are abroad, that will be okay.</p>

<p>Personally, I strongly recommend studying abroad for a full academic year. Most people go for a semester. I only went for a semester, and that is my one regret about studying abroad. Just as you are beginning to get used to a place, you have to leave. I’ve heard from students who stayed a whole year that the real learning begins during the second half of that year, after they have gotten over the initial culture shock. If you decide to only stay for a semester, though, that semester doesn’t really matter. IF you go to a European university or universities that are on the same schedule, the spring semester is longer because it really spans two terms. The fall semester is much shorter, because it’s just one term.</p>

<p>You don’t have to take languages. I went to the Netherlands and needed absolutely no language skills, which was actually disappointing to me (I wanted to go somewhere where few people spoke English, so I could experience the frustration of attempting to communicate and really learn the language. The Netherlands wasn’t my first choice of countries). Obviously, if you go to an English-speaking country like Australia, the UK, South Africa, or Jamaica, you don’t need any language. Also, some programs where the host language is not English require none or very little of the home country’s language, particularly if mostly everyone speaks English or if most of the university’s classes are in English, or if you are going through an independent program that teaches all of their classes in English. Most Spanish-speaking countries require a certain level of proficiency in Spanish, I’ve noticed, because it’s taught so prevalently here; however, there are intensive Spanish programs that don’t require any prior knowledge.</p>

<p>I also second the advice to start early. Not just on thinking about where you want to go, but how to make it a reality. I daydreamed forever about wanting to go to Japan, and I even attended my college partially because it have an exchange program with a women’s college in Japan. Unfortunately, I went to talk to the director of this program during the first half of my sophomore year (which you would think was early enough!) and found out that you needed two years of Japanese before you could do it. Had I known that during freshman year, I wouldn’t have finished my French during first semester; I would’ve taken Japanese 101-102 freshman year and 201-202 sophomore year so I could be ready to go! Then after that, I assumed that the other Japanese programs I wanted were too expensive and ended up going to a program that was far more expensive than those – because I got lots of scholarships.</p>

<p>I highly recommend going to your study abroad office at your school and talking to the director. Our study abroad director was an excellent, excellent woman – she got you where you wanted to go and she found you MONEY. I didn’t have to borrow a dime to study abroad.</p>

<p>I wouldn’t be so quick to discredit summer study abroad options. For a lot of students, it’s difficult to work out credit transfers for required courses, making graduating on time significantly more difficult for students with majors that have rigid course requirements. I’m currently in Spain on my second summer study abroad program (I spent part of last summer in South Africa), and it’s definitely not the same experience (I’m assuming) as a full semester of time abroad, there are summer programs with a lot to offer.</p>

<p>I’ve been spending time at the Colegio Unamuno ([Spanish</a> Courses in Spain at COLEGIO UNAMUNO](<a href=“http://www.colegiounamuno.es%5DSpanish”>http://www.colegiounamuno.es)), which exclusively offers Spanish classes at all levels. The language credits are transferring back to my home university, and I’m still experiencing a lot of the typical cultural activities and meeting plenty of Spanish students. As far as whether or not you’ll be able to interact with local students depends on where you go–in Salamanca, Spain, there are students around all year, and even now, in the middle of their exams, there are always people out on the Plaza Mayor and at clubs.</p>

<p>I’ve found that this program works especially well because no matter what your level of Spanish is, you’ll learn tons of the language within a few weeks between classes, walking around the city, and a homestay (if you choose to do one). I don’t know if I’d be as keen on a homestay for a semester, since I’ve never experienced it, but I LOVE my homestay mom here in Spain–she’s incredibly nice and an amazing cook. This trip definitely wouldn’t be the same if I were in a dorm.</p>

<p>Also, a lot of summer study abroad summer programs are significantly less expensive than full semesters, and your home campus probably offers some good scholarship opportunities, so you could always consider both! After all, the more time abroad, the better, right?</p>