Study Abroad
 

I have studied abroad twice and they were some of the best things I have ever done! I was a Rotary Exchange Student to Germany right out of high school for a year and also spent a semester in Ireland my junior year of college. These were once in a lifetime opportunities and I don't regret them at all - and grew as a person (especially in a world understanding) because of them. I still keep somewhat in contact with friends in Germany and from the semester in Ireland - but am certain that I would have a place to stay if I were to be in their areas of their respective countries!

Yes, they can be expensive (and will usually go over budget) but there are also the intangibles (friends, experiences, etc) that truly are priceless.

Sarah

They're charging you that much for 4 weeks? I did 3 weeks in Aussiefor $2800 in 1999, and my entire 6-month trip to Aussie in 2002 (including a semester of school and travelling to 4 countries) was $6,000, and I wasn't too thrifty.

Aside from that cost, studying abroad was the single best experience in my life. I know a semester is different from 4 weeks, but being immersed in another culture really opens your eyes. Whatever you do, do NOT ruin your experience by being homesick. I've seen far too many people not get their full experience by spending all their time crying on the phone to people at home. I didn't see anyone I knew for 6 months, but I survived, and you can, too :) I'd say go for it!

Re: Study Abroad
 

For how many credits?

Re: Re: Study Abroad
 

Re: Re: Study Abroad
 

Ah... some who is thinking - How man credits and are all the credits accepted by your school? That is perhaps the first question you should be asking yourself.

Re: Re: Re: Study Abroad
 

:eek:

Wow....well, I'll put it to you this way....

I earned six credits in four weeks for maybe three grand in the year 2000. I can't remember the exact price.

(At my school, most classes were worth three credits, and most people took five classes a semester, meeting twice a week for fifteen weeks.)

If your school is on a similar set up, then it seems to me that the price of the program will be worth it.

Re: Re: Re: Study Abroad
 

Exactly....my school ran the program I went to, so there was no question about the credits.

Re: Re: Re: Re: Study Abroad
 

I have seen programs here were the core credit or two was accepted by the school, but anything extra wasn't "official"... which means it didn't count for anything other than further educating you or exposing you to new experiences.

I recently read an article that fewer than 1 % of students study abroad. The article mentioned how Washington (Democrats I think--can't recall) want to make it easier for students to do this.

I studied my entire Junior Year in France. Mulhouse (near Strasbourg). The experience was excellent and I recommend it to anyone (although not the city--blech!). Met friends I keep to this day (20 years later). It's nice for Americans to think outside of the continental box and get a taste for the rest of the world.

I would dearly love to study abroad, ecspecially as I am giving serious thought to working abroad. However, my school has no program, and I'm hardly getting any financial aid, so me going abroad is not an option.

Even if your school doesn't accept the credits, do go. I imagine the experience alone would be worth the money.

Like I said earlier, studying abroad is an incredible experience. Over 60% of students from my alma mater go abroad, and my school made it incredibl affordable. We have 3-4 week programs all around the world, and I believe the most expensive one i around $4000 now. If you're going to take out $10,000 in loans, I don't know if it would be worth it. I said before that my six month trek around Australia (for which I got 18 credits and travelled to several countries plus all around Australia) was only around $6k. I'd try to find another school to go through if yours is charging such a high amount.

I know 10grand is a lot of money, BUT think of the once-in-a-lifetime experiences you'll be having. Are you staying with families? If you are, you will NEVER be able to get an experience like that if you were to vacation over there. If I had the opportunity to study abroad, I would have. GO FOR IT!! :D

Again, find another school to go through. $10k is a ripoff for 4 weeks in Australia. Plenty of schools offer programs like this for a lot less, and the experiences are the same. Do some research first. I'm a huge advocate for going abroad, but not with some program that charges you way too much when you can get it for much cheaper.

You should definately consider the opportunity to study abroad. It can be a tough experience, particularly for people who go for a longer time, but is also awesome and during college is often the best chance to do it. I studied abroad and learned so much. You see all these places and meet people and experience a bit how other people live. On the other hand, I also am paying my student debts and I don't think that's something we can just pretend doesn't put extra pressure on people after they graduate. It sucks and it can be difficult. So the best thing would be to look at various programs, don't just restrict yourself to what your school offers because you could find a better deal somewhere else. Or reconsider the country. Going somewhere closer would at least cut down on the airfare. Good luck.

I think 4 weeks is too short anyway, even if it were cheaper than $10,000. If I were going to go through all the rigmarole involved, I think I'd rather go for a longer period of time...but that's just because I like to travel, too. :p See if there are other programs you might be able to work with.

I am looking at the Study Abroad Program with my school. It will be $5000, excluding tution, for four weeks in the UK, United Kingdom, not the University of Kentucky. It is between 3 and 6 credit hours. In the UK I can sort of speak the language.

If this is the only way for you to go abroad and you think you can handle the debt, then go for it. A lot of people don't get the chance to travel after graduation because they go right on to work and then don't have the time/money to do what they wanted. I have no clue when (if ever) I'm going to have another chance to spend 6 months in another country and go into debt without worrying about a house, a family, etc.

I did a summer program in London after my sophomore year and it was easily the best experience of my life. I'ms o glad I did it and wish I could have stayed over there longer. If you have the opportunity, you should definitely go.

Honestly, as much as I loved my study abroad experience in Vienna, that's about twice what it should cost. The summer program I did for twice as long was around $7500, and that's with outrageous Emory tuition.

I always encourage people to find a way, but if you're only staying a month, you don't get as much out of it. It takes around 3-4 weeks to become acclimated to a new country, and by that time your program is over. Trust me, I love to travel, but I'm not sure it would be worth it for me. If it's something you have your heart set on, go for it, otherwise I would wait.

that's an outrageous amount of money for four weeks in australia. i just got out of 3 months in england, plus traveling extensively, and only spent $4,000 of my own personal money plus tuition and airfare. there ARE other programs out there... not necessarily other schools, but programs that just do study abroad... that you should look into. the experience is unforgettable without a doubt, and everyone should go abroad, but $10 grand out of pocket is a lot of money.

Well, it's $5,600 that included the tution, two meals a day, etc.... the transportantion and anything else is extra. Flights to Australia are expensive

Update
 

awww I hope you get in!!! One of my friends decided to do a "summer abroad" program in Australia- she absolutely loved it. It was definetely a great experience for her; I guess since she was sort of "on her own", she gained alot of confidence and came out of her shell alot! She was almost like a completely different person when she came back (we couldn't get her to shut up, lol):P

I would definitely go. I went to Australia (working holiday, not studies) and what you get in life experience is phenonmenal...much more important than school credits!

You can get a student-rate flight for under $2k. $5600 for a few week course seems outrageous to me. I went to an expensive private school, and our winter term and summer abroad courses were under $4k, flight included. But good luck :)

www.mobissimo.com

-Rudey

Thanxs! That site is great....it's the cheapest so far by a good $500 for thier cheapest...even thier most expensive flight is $300 cheaper then what I've seen!

Which airline are you looking at? Qantas is OK, but I prefer Air New Zealand. United also flies directly from LAX.