Thinking about doing a semester abroad.

[FearoftheNight]

Can anyone provide any tips or experience?

 

[skim milk]

tips/experience:

good choice
best experience ever

 

[theprodigalrebel]

Go for it. Canada's awesome.

 

[rivan]

Do it.

Do everything you can to widen your world view; the US has entirely too many people that can't see past the end of their nose.

Edit:

Canada's awesome.

While Canada IS awesome, I would hardly call it "abroad".

 

[Uppsala9496]

Spent 2 years in Sweden. Best years of my life.

 

[rasczak]

Originally posted by: Uppsala9496
Spent 2 years in Sweden. Best years of my life.

I've always wanted to go there. I've always wanted to study a broad as well. Get it? study A BROAD? hahahah

do it man. you'll regret not doing it in the end. It should be a blast. I wanted to study in paris for a semester but funding kinda went downhill so i couldn't go.

 

[E equals MC2]

A friend did it at HK for a semester.

She absolutely loved it. courses are super easy because they're overseas. they're also usually pass or fail so they studied jack shit.

Every night was crazy night life, full of culture, amazing food... best of all, you never have to pay the sky rocket rents of staying in HK.

You get to meet all types of people, cool friends, meet with other cool peeps from colleges in Europe etc. Also don't forget hot hot hot HK girls!!!!!!!

You can never do that once you're out of college without shellingbig $$$. DO it!!!! Not being able to study abroad is my BIGGEST regret in college.

 

[nageov3t]

if you can afford it, do it

not spending a semester abroad is one of my big regrets from college, I was just never in a position where I could afford to spend an entire semester with no real income, not to mention the fact that it might have pushed back my graduation date (I was a dual-major, so I didn't have a ton of filler classes... most people I know who spent a semester abroad just used it to knock out a bunch of joke gen-ed/elective classes. I couldn't imagine trying to fulfill my 400+ level sociology requirements in a foreign language. they were bad enough in english. lol)

 

[E equals MC2]

DO FUCKING IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Journer]

tip: go for more than a semester
experience: best in my life so far

 

[skim milk]

Originally posted by: Journer
tip: go for more than a semester
experience: best in my life so far

exactly what I posted

I wish I can do it again but I'm too old now to be studying abroad now.... the europeans don't seem to care about that though :/

 

[OREOSpeedwagon]

I'd love to if I can, so I'd say definitely go if you have the chance. I don't think I've ever heard anyone say they wish they hadn't studied abroad. I've heard people talk about some bad experiences, but most say they just made the experience more interesting.

 

[Flammable]

Originally posted by: OREOSpeedwagon
I'd love to if I can, so I'd say definitely go if you have the chance. I don't think I've ever heard anyone say they wish they hadn't studied abroad. I've heard people talk about some bad experiences, but most say they just made the experience more interesting.

I dont know about this kid,
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23375427/

 

[FearoftheNight]

Any ideas on good places? I'm asian so I"m not interested in asian locations. I was thinking of the Netherlands/Spain/Australia/Denmark/Sweden? Any thoughts?

 

[onlyCOpunk]

Do it, you wont regret it. I love living overseas and haven't officially lived back in the US since I studied abroad my last semester of University, about 3 years ago.

And pick anywhere. Do you wish to pick up another language? Does climate affect your decision. Basically anywhere you choose is going to be a blast. I only know one person who didn't like their study abroad semester and I think that was caused by a bit of closemindedness.

You'll find it amazing that there's a completely different world outside of the USA (if that's where you currently live) and being able to actually live in another country aside from just visiting is an awesome feeling.

Not to mention how independent you will become is priceless. Not many people can just pick and go live in a place where they know absolutely no one.

And one final tip, when you do go abroad DO NOT HANG OUT WITH OTHER AMERICAN KIDS it's bad news and you wont meet as many locals and have as great of an experience.

 

[johnjbruin]

Do it.
Any country will make a good choice.
One of the best learning experiences ever.

 

[jiggahertz]

http://stuffwhitepeoplelike.wo...02/22/72-study-abroad/

 

[LS21]

Originally posted by: FearoftheNight
Any ideas on good places? I'm asian so I"m not interested in asian locations. I was thinking of the Netherlands/Spain/Australia/Denmark/Sweden? Any thoughts?

i WISH i had money/time to do it when i was in school. however, i did live with and hang out with TONS of other foreign students, so i still got 1/2 (maybe 1/3?) of the experience.

as cool as denmrk/sweden/netherlands are, they aare expensive (not good for students), and i think you can get a bit mre diversity in spain or germany

australia would be awesome, but i personally wouldnt do it for the sole reason that they speak english.

 

[Mo0o]

It's basically one giant ass vacation. So yes, do it .

 

[aphex]

I've been fortunate enough to study abroad twice in my life

- Undergrad at Hogeschool van Utrecht in Utrecht, The Netherlands (2002)
- Law School at Oxford in Oxford, UK (2005)

Both times were absolutely, without a doubt the BEST experiences of my life. If you have the chance and the ability, GO!!!!!

If you want info about either location, feel free to ask. I'd be more than happy to help you out.

 

[Farang]

Originally posted by: onlyCOpunk
And one final tip, when you do go abroad DO NOT HANG OUT WITH OTHER AMERICAN KIDS it's bad news and you wont meet as many locals and have as great of an experience.

Meh.. overrated. I studied in Thailand for 7 months and while I made many Thai friends, the American ones are those I valued most. Being in such a sometimes-backwards place (from my perspective) it was necessary for me to able to to discuss and try to interpret what was around me with people from my own country. Also, the ease of language is a big plus. Speaking every word very clearly gets annoying after a while. Also, I traveled as much as possible, and my Thai friends either didn't have the interest or couldn't afford to come with me.

My recommendation to the OP would be to avoid Australia, New Zealand, or the UK.

 

[Kaieye]

I spent over three months in Japan in a college semester program over twenty years ago and I remember spending almost 7k at the time for everything including transportation, food, lodging, etc. etc...

This was one of the best things I did in my life even though everyday had its ups and downs. I still am in contact with a pal who lives there. It did open my eyes that there is a life outside of the US.

Do it!

 

[JJChicken]

do it!

 

[biostud]

If you go to Denmark to study you can apply for SU, which is around $1000/month.

 

[Skiddex]

Originally posted by: biostud
If you go to Denmark to study you can apply for SU, which is around $1000/month.

Denmark was rockin. I studied at DTU which is an engineering school (called technical schools there). class 3 days a week, traveled all around europe every weekend. by far the best experience of my life.

my piece of advice, whatever you budget for living, food, fun and travel...triple it. i do agree with the comment above about people you hang out with. you are in completely new environment and make friends with the other students and other internationals studying there. dont hang out just with other americans.