Exploring Study Abroad Programs During Your College Search

Studying abroad can help students become more independent and open-minded, while developing foreign language skills and cross-cultural awareness. While many colleges and universities offer study abroad experiences, the programs can vary widely from school to school. If your student hopes to study abroad during their college years, it's important for them to explore the programs offered at the schools they're considering. 



The first step is to identify the type of study abroad experience that your student is looking for:


  1. When does the student plan to study abroad (during freshman year or as an upperclassman)?
  2. Is the student interested in language immersion, or do they prefer classes conducted in English? 
  3. Does the student prefer a short-term or long-term experience? (Programs can range from a few weeks to a full year.) 
  4. What are the student’s preferred locations? 
  5. Is the student interested in attending a local institution or an American university located in another country? 
  6. What does the student wish to study during their time abroad? 


Thinking about those questions will help your student evaluate the specific study abroad options offered at each school. And it's okay if they don't have all the answers yet! The goal is to get them thinking and be sure there aren't any deal-breakers they hadn't even considered.


TYPES OF STUDY ABROAD PROGRAMS


Study abroad programs typically fall into two categories: 


University-based programs


These programs are run by the student's college, often in partnership with local universities in the study abroad location.


  • Academic rigor tends to mirror the home campus
  • Students may have the option to stay with a local family
  • Costs are typically the same as the home campus, and financial aid may often be utilized


For-profit programs


These programs are run by private organizations licensed through universities.


  • They tend to offer more locations
  • Faculty may not have PhDs
  • Students typically live in dorms or apartments



There are also some schools that allow students to spend their entire college career abroad. These types of programs typically have additional application requirements, and students can find out more through the college or university offering them. 


The opportunity to study abroad can be life-changing, and we encourage all students to consider the option. If it's something your student is interested in, they should be sure their college list includes lots of schools with study abroad programs that suit them best


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