<p>So freshman daughter forwards me an email from her honors prof about a class and trip opportunity coming up. Basically, they take a 3-hour seminar class (on campus) all of second semester, then at the end of spring finals, will travel to Italy for 2 weeks, to the tune of about $4000. We noticed when she was touring schools that most (if not all) talked about their study abroad programs.</p>
<p>So...having gone to college myself when dinosaurs roamed the earth, this "global campus" is kind of new to me. Although I think it could be fascinating/enriching/interesting...not sure if it's more than a super-cool summer trip.</p>
<p>Can somebody help me understand the purpose of the short visits to another country? Am trying to guage "worth-it-ness"...and not just from a future career standpoint (kid is a performing arts major). </p>
<p>Please tell me more about your kids' experiences, why you might or might not be willing to support one of these trips...I am in the dark!</p>
<p>My opinion would depend on what was being done during that time. </p>
<p>My son spent three weeks of winter break in India and Pakistan interviewing people about nuclear disarmament. He did it for a course he was taking. The school helped pay for the trip, but we had to fork over some of the costs too. He’s planning on majoring in International Relations and is planning on a related career. It was obvious how the experience would be valuable both in the short and long term and on a personal, academic and professional level. </p>
<p>Because he traveled with just one other student and made all the travel arrangements himself (on a shoestring budget to boot), they really learned a lot about planning trips like this. They learned a lot from both their mistakes and successes. If he does a trip like this in the future he’ll be better prepared. </p>
<p>I think there is a danger in trips when you go with a class that you learn a lot less about the local culture, but that said, one of my best grad school experiences was spending 3 weeks touring Italy with one of my architecture professors. He had access to a number of places that aren’t generally open to the public. I really enjoyed studying one thing intensively for a short period of time.</p>
<p>I think it is a great way to experience other cultures for students that can’t manage a semester or year-long study program. Many schools on DS list do this. One tourguide had visited Italy, London, Kenya and Japan. It probably won’t be the life-changing experience that a semester abroad would be, but it is a way to understand the class material in a much more personal manner.</p>
<p>My younger daughter did that last spring/summer. Her Spanish cultures class (she minored in Spanish) went over to Spain for three weeks. It didn’t cost anywhere near $4000, though. The summer before that her church history (Catholic college) did the same thing with a trip to Italy, and a day trip to Germany for the Passion Play. She absolutely loved her AP art history class, so these trips were a real thrill for her.</p>
<p>She went on both trips because she loved the classes, and is fortunate to have very generous financial aid which allowed her to use Stafford loans to pay for the trip. Not the wisest decision in my opinion, but it was a great opportunity.</p>
<p>She called me yesterday to say she’s going to Haiti this summer for a six week rotation of her Physician Assistant clinical work… living at a convent and the school is paying a lot of her travel costs, so expenses are very small.</p>
<p>Long time ago, I went on a 3 weeks China study group with my school. The professor knew a lot of senior government officials in China and many well known professors at some top colleges. Even though the trip was very short, we were able to get a lot of first hand information which was not publicly known back then. We also had many forums with college students to exchange different views. I think they got as much of it as we did. This trip was conducted at the end of a semester of Chinese History and an Economics course.</p>
<p>If your kid is studying art history, architecture, political science, there is nothing better than getting the first hand experience. It is worth it if the program is intensive, with lectures and tours to sites scheduled. If it has a lot of free time, eating and drinking at bars, then it is just a vacation. I would look at the schedule, check out who they are going to be meeting, and where they are going to visiting to determine if it is worth 4000.</p>
<p>My daughter went on a community service trip to Honduras…no college credit…during spring break a couple of years ago. As I recall, it cost us about $1200. BUT it gave her great insight into what being in a developing country was like, firmed up her desire to go into the Peace Corps (where she is now), and also gave her the idea to pursue possibly a physician’s assistant course of study when she returns. Money well spent, we thought.</p>
<p>mommafrog: did you leave out the part that the students will get additional credits during the trip or did I miss that?..$4000 sounds like an Elon Winter term type program that the students receive 4 credits for (classes are included)</p>
<p>The school my son attends has similar short term trips with lots of destinations to choose from. They seem to run about 2.5-3 weeks in length. I do not know what the final cost will be but most students go on them. The school pays the airfare, lodging, and I believe touring/transportation costs. The students have to pay for their meals. Every student with a satisfactory GPA and a certain class standing is allowed to go one of these prior to graduation. </p>
<p>The school also offers trips very similar to the one that thumper described over spring break. I am fairly sure that airfare and lodging is covered. I don’t know what the final cost of that trip would be to the student, but I know that it would not be very expensive.</p>
<p>My son did an elective trip for 10 days to Germany last winter break. It was offered through a club he belongs to that focuses on his major (Logistics & Operations Management). They visited 3 or 4 large companies there (Nestle, BMW) And attended lectures and saw how efficiently these companies were run. They also had time to do some sight-seeing.</p>
<p>A semester abroad wasn’t in the cards for him, so we helped him do this trip. It was an amazing experience! He just had a job interview with BMW this week and the fact that he’s been to the headquarters in Germany really gave him something special to talk about.</p>