http://www.vagablogging.net/study-%e2%80%9cabroad%e2%80%9d-alternatives.html Fri, 30 Jul 2010 09:50:10 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 http://www.vagablogging.net/study-%e2%80%9cabroad%e2%80%9d-alternatives.html/comment-page-1#comment-24398 John Tue, 03 Nov 2009 20:13:37 +0000 http://www.vagablogging.net/?p=5548#comment-24398 I agree that it can be very expensive to study abroad, however if your university would have allowed it, I would have recommended directly enrolling in a foreign public university or program. This is what I did twice, once for a semester and once for a year abroad and it ended up costing much less than I would have paid for 12 credit hours at home in the U.S. However, I was responsible for enrolling, finding my own housing, signing up for classes, making sure the credits were sent back home etc. and it obviously helps to already know the local language, but in my case it all went very smoothly. Whenever their is a 'program provider' working as an intermediary between you and the foreign university the costs will be high. Unfortunately most students don't realize that if their study abroad office allows it, directly enrolling, especially into established foreign programs is much easier than they think. This program http://www.ccfs-sorbonne.fr/sommaire.php3?lang=en is a popular one in Paris and is pretty affordable and easy to directly enroll into yourself, especially if you have some French already or a friend to help who does. Finally, if possible always try to study abroad for a semester or longer. While shorter summer programs are growing in popularity because of convenience, a semester or year abroad is often more cost effective, you really get a chance to be immersed in local culture and often during summers local student are not present so you are studying with other foreign study abroad students. Finally (almost done) I have also weighed study abroad vs an around the world trip and while I am jealous of all my gap year friends who have already trekked across three continents, while I barely left Oslo, I would not have traded my study abroad experience for a ticket from AirTreks any day, living abroad as a student for 6 months or 9 offers you the chance to develop long term relationships, get a job, join local student clubs, really learn about the foreign culture and make a home abroad, I think studying abroad is a unique once in a lifetime experience, that unfortunately only around 1 percent of American college students do every year, trekking Africa and SEA can be done after graduation studying abroad can't. I agree that it can be very expensive to study abroad, however if your university would have allowed it, I would have recommended directly enrolling in a foreign public university or program. This is what I did twice, once for a semester and once for a year abroad and it ended up costing much less than I would have paid for 12 credit hours at home in the U.S. However, I was responsible for enrolling, finding my own housing, signing up for classes, making sure the credits were sent back home etc. and it obviously helps to already know the local language, but in my case it all went very smoothly. Whenever their is a ‘program provider’ working as an intermediary between you and the foreign university the costs will be high. Unfortunately most students don’t realize that if their study abroad office allows it, directly enrolling, especially into established foreign programs is much easier than they think. This program http://www.ccfs-sorbonne.fr/sommaire.php3?lang=en is a popular one in Paris and is pretty affordable and easy to directly enroll into yourself, especially if you have some French already or a friend to help who does. Finally, if possible always try to study abroad for a semester or longer. While shorter summer programs are growing in popularity because of convenience, a semester or year abroad is often more cost effective, you really get a chance to be immersed in local culture and often during summers local student are not present so you are studying with other foreign study abroad students. Finally (almost done) I have also weighed study abroad vs an around the world trip and while I am jealous of all my gap year friends who have already trekked across three continents, while I barely left Oslo, I would not have traded my study abroad experience for a ticket from AirTreks any day, living abroad as a student for 6 months or 9 offers you the chance to develop long term relationships, get a job, join local student clubs, really learn about the foreign culture and make a home abroad, I think studying abroad is a unique once in a lifetime experience, that unfortunately only around 1 percent of American college students do every year, trekking Africa and SEA can be done after graduation studying abroad can’t.

]]> http://www.vagablogging.net/study-%e2%80%9cabroad%e2%80%9d-alternatives.html/comment-page-1#comment-24377 Colleen Wilde Tue, 03 Nov 2009 15:44:51 +0000 http://www.vagablogging.net/?p=5548#comment-24377 That's awesome LP! I got to do the same thing. I drove my car up and was able to make a whole road trip put of it. I was also able to take weekend trips to Montreal and around the whole Québec Province. It's an experience that I still hold very dear to my heart. :) That’s awesome LP! I got to do the same thing. I drove my car up and was able to make a whole road trip put of it. I was also able to take weekend trips to Montreal and around the whole Québec Province. It’s an experience that I still hold very dear to my heart.

]]> http://www.vagablogging.net/study-%e2%80%9cabroad%e2%80%9d-alternatives.html/comment-page-1#comment-24275 LP Mon, 02 Nov 2009 23:21:58 +0000 http://www.vagablogging.net/?p=5548#comment-24275 I knew a classmate from my college French classes that did this program. She came back raving about the town and spoke in better French than half the kids who'd studied in France. I think it's a great option not only for the cash-strapped, but for those really looking for a "different" abroad experience, since Québec is one of the largest francophone communities in the world. She even got to drive her car across the border and have it with her to travel all over Québec! I knew a classmate from my college French classes that did this program. She came back raving about the town and spoke in better French than half the kids who’d studied in France. I think it’s a great option not only for the cash-strapped, but for those really looking for a “different” abroad experience, since Québec is one of the largest francophone communities in the world. She even got to drive her car across the border and have it with her to travel all over Québec!

]]> http://www.vagablogging.net/study-%e2%80%9cabroad%e2%80%9d-alternatives.html/comment-page-1#comment-24263 brian Mon, 02 Nov 2009 19:51:48 +0000 http://www.vagablogging.net/?p=5548#comment-24263 Excellent info. I'll send it to any of my students looking to study a language abroad. Excellent info. I’ll send it to any of my students looking to study a language abroad.

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