Choosing A Study Abroad Program
- Admin
- Aug 22, 2017
- 8 min read
So you’ve decided to study abroad! Good for you! But before you pack your bags, you have to decide where you want to go- and who will take you!
Picking a study abroad program can be overwhelming. With so many things to keep in mind, this important decision might freak you out. But don’t be discouraged! I’m here to help you!
As I am studying abroad as a senior, these tips are from my experience looking for a high school program, but feel free to apply them to college searches too!
When searching, try to keep a list of what you are looking for in a program, either physical or mental. Organization is key when planning! Here are my top things to consider when choosing a study abroad program:
Access
The accessibility to a study abroad program may be important to some people when searching. If there is an exchange program operated and organized right in your school, then that might be the easiest and best option for you! But just know that if your school doesn’t have something like this, or you don’t feel it’s the best choice for you, then you aren’t limited. A huge list of programs is just a Google search away! That’s how I found my program and there are many different types to choose from.
Just be aware, as a high school student, this search might be a little more difficult. Since it is more common to study abroad in college, you have to specify in your search that you need a high school level program. Double check that the amazing semester abroad you just found is oriented for a high school junior and not a college junior. Also, be sure to keep in touch with your guidance counselor at your home school, as they might know of certain programs and have some recommendations for you.
School Approval
extremely important to keep in touch with them and let them know of your plans. Some schools may not allow you to study abroad with a certain program, or even at all, if they cannot guarantee that you will get accreditation or meet the requirements for graduation. Make sure you check every program to see if you will be able to get school credit. Some companies help you with getting the materials for accreditation at your home school, others leave it to you to handle. Talk it out with your counselor or school administrators to make sure its A-OK for you to continue. It would be a nightmare to return home only to find out you can’t graduate on time because you didn’t meet school requirements or weren’t given credit for your work.Even if your guidance counselor does not know of any programs, it is still
That being said, your just may not be experienced with students studying abroad. I know that my school wasn’t. My guidance counselor had to make sure with administrators that it was even possible, as she had never gone through the process before. If you are the first one, your school just may not understand the logistics yet. If they need a little push in the right direction, remind them that the process of trying matching requirements would be very similar to if someone transferred to the school from somewhere else. I can’t guarantee that it will work, but it might put them in the right frame of mind to consider it. Let your counselor know about your intentions plenty of time in advance so they have the time to work it out themselves. Whatever you do, don’t wait until the last moment to give them the heads up! The lack of time could prevent them from approving your plans, even if they could have been possible. Don’t ruin your chances!
Type of Company
During my search, I found two types of study abroad companies: country specific ones, and general ones. General companies usually were the more well known ones, as they take many students and arrange them to stay in countries all over the world. These are usually based in your home country and have connections overseas. They usually have many country programs on offer, and are used to handling larger amounts of students. There are a good amount of these companies to choose from, if they offer everything else you are looking for.
But don’t settle on one of these companies just because they are the easiest to find. If you know where you want to go, try looking for country specific companies. These companies are usually based in the foreign country and take students just to that specific country. They are usually smaller companies and take smaller groups.
There are pros and cons to each type of company. I found that country specific programs (which is the type I ended up going with) felt more personal. They knew the country the best, because they were actually from and living in the country. General companies felt more corporate to me, which isn’t a huge issue, but it lacked the personal touch. They are much better for understanding your home country and knowing the best way to get you abroad because they are familiar with your county and school’s legalities and procedures, but they usually lacked some expertise on your host country. They certainly knew quite a lot, but they didn’t grow up or live there.
Really, the type of company is up to your personal taste. Both types are going to help set you up to live in another country and both want your business. It is really the specific programs that each offer that matter the most when it comes time to choose.
Price
I know that one of the scariest, but most important factors for me when I decided to study abroad was cost. Many programs sport high price tags, some even in the ten thousands! But don’t let that stop you from looking. While it is likely that you will be paying at least a couple thousand for a semester, some programs are less expensive than others. Look for ones that are more possible for your budget and skip the ones that you know you can’t afford. Try searching for scholarships! I found that many of the more general companies offered a few merit or need based scholarships for students in their programs to apply to. If you company does not offer these, look online for outside scholarships or contests. Try fundraising or making a plan with your parents to do more chores. I would most recommend getting a job (or two!). It not only gives you work experience, but a steady income to put aside for your trip. If you’re a spender and worried about losing your travel funds to the newest iPhone, talk to your parents about keeping your money away from where you can easily access it, like in a savings account or even just hidden away from your reach.
Keep in mind costs other than just the program fee. Almost every program includes room and board and three daily meals. But other than that, companies will differ as to what they give you. Make a budget of your estimated costs for the program, traveling, uniforms, day trips, school supplies, snacks, and toiletries. Remember that you will essentially be living there, so make sure you have enough so that you will be comfortable and happy.
Trust me, I know how hard finding the money can be- I plan to make a post about my struggles with making enough to fund my trip- but don’t let the dear that you won’t have enough stop you from trying. Working hard will pay off in the end!
Duration
A simple thing to consider when planning your trip is the length of the program. Studying abroad can be as short at a couple weeks to a year or even two! This again comes down to your comfort level. If you have never left home, try a shorter program. Or if you are comfortable with it, go for a whole school year! Just be reasonable. Don’t plan on going abroad for your whole senior year if you had your heart set out on graduating for your home high school. And if you can’t live without spending Christmas with your family, don’t opt for a program where you will be away all December. Keep in mind the price again! A longer duration mean more $$$! But however long you choose to stay, you will still have a great experience and learn a lot while you are there.
Location
I saved what I believe is the most important for last. Location can make or break your personal experience. It is a large category that covers many different considerations. Location includes language, food, lifestyle, comfort. Each needs to be carefully considered to make sure you are choosing the best place for you.
Language is probably the most important. It would be pretty difficult to go to school in Russia if you didn’t know a word of Russian. Not saying it isn’t an option, as you will learn the language as you go, but it helps to have some background in it before you go. So if you have been taking Portuguese in school, maybe you should consider Brazil or Portugal before you set your heart on Sweden. You don’t want to arrive in a country and not be able to keep up with your academics because you don’t have a clue what they are talking about. If you do decide on a country that speaks a language different than your own, brush up on some basics before you go. Although it will be a challenge, by the time you return home, you’ll be fluent!
Another thing to think about is what you will be eating while you are away. When traveling to any country, there is always going to be new food to try, which is one of the best parts! But if you can’t stomach curry, maybe try to avoid choosing India. You will be in the country for a lot longer than a vacation, so make sure you are comfortable with the cuisine. You probably won’t end up liking everything, but you won’t dread mealtime either. But keep an open mind! Just because you hate the fish you eat in your home country, doesn’t mean you won’t enjoy the way they serve it in Denmark. You may find your new favorite dish!
Lifestyle is another broad category that encompases a lot of different things. I like to think of it as an overall experience. This can include how the country run their schools, to how late you eat dinner, to what you do on weekends. Experiencing a new culture is a huge part of studying abroad, so don’t be afraid of going somewhere, even if day-to-day life is completely different to yours at home. Just go with the flow and soon you will become adjusted to your new life.
Finally, comfort is another thing to consider when choosing a location. Make sure that wherever you are going, you will be happy. Homesickness is inevitable, but you don’t want to end up somewhere that makes you wish you never chose to study abroad. This can include specific locations to whole countries. If busy city life overwhelms you, try to steer clear of places like London, or New York City. But if you love nature and jungles, maybe a country like Costa Rica will suit you. Don’t afraid to be picky! It doesn’t mean you hate the country, or won’t ever visit, it just means that maybe it isn't right for you to be there long term. Find a place where you will be the happiest!
I know this is a lot to consider, and these probably even more than what I’ve listed, but I hope this helps you on your search for the right program. Don’t expect the first one you look at to be perfect. It took me hours and hours on the internet over the course of a few weeks to finally narrow down a list of programs that worked for me. There were many that seemed great, but logistically weren’t possible. But that doesn’t mean the right one isn’t out there! Looking for programs can be exciting! As they say, it’s the journey not the destination. Make it fun and don’t get too stressed. Work hard and keep an open mind and before you know it, you’ll be on a plane with great adventures awaiting you!
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