Summer is quickly approaching and after all the stress of finals is over, many college students are going to start day one of their first real adventures by themselves as adults – a study abroad trip to whatever country their hearts desire! Thousands of students go abroad, but out of those thousands, almost half are students going abroad for just the summer months.
No matter if it's Chile or China, England or Egypt, you really only need a few summer months to gain a new perspective about a country, all while enjoying a new academic, career, and cultural perspective.
Plus, summer study abroad programs offer many benefits that an entire semester abroad cannot. Summer programs give you a taste of what life is outside of your home country. If you're anything like me, it will also give you that incurable first little bite by the travel bug. And if you're anything like my friend Jessy, you'll spend every college summer exploring a new country.
And maybe, just maybe, you'll find that spending a summer studying abroad is one of the best decisions you've ever made.
Pros of choosing a short-term program:
Unlike many of the semester or year abroad programs, summer abroad programs give students much more opportunity to travel and visit various locations. While still focused on the “study" part of study abroad, summer programs also focus a lot on traveling from place to place during the few weeks you are in a country.
It's also a great option for students with financial concerns or a rigorous course load. They may be a little less bang for your buck, but a shorter program will inevitably be cheaper. Plus, when factoring in the cost of living abroad, especially in Europe, you will certainly save. And most of you transfer students or those with tougher majors may have thought studying abroad was out of the question, however by fitting a short-term program into one of your summers, you'll not only stay on track, you may even put yourself ahead of the game. Showing that you are well rounded will impress future employers and graduate schools more than an extra molecular biology course.
Cons of choosing a short-term program:
When arriving in a new country there's just so much to do! You may feel overwhelmed as you try to prioritize which restaurants to sample or which exhibits to hit. Add in trips in the surrounding region and it's likely you'll be rushed to get it all in. And with only five to ten weeks to get to know a city, the culture, and the language, you may not have enough time to take it all in.
If you are joining a program that is only five to ten weeks, you have only a few weekends to get out and see the rest of the country. Oftentimes, study abroad companies build weekend trips into the program to the most popular nearby destinations. So, if there's somewhere you're dying to go, you may not have as many opportunities to do so.
Regardless of your decision, any experience abroad will open you up to different cultures. Both short-term and long-term programs provide students with the opportunity to step outside their comfort zones. And if your summer study abroad experience changed your life and you're itching to get back out there, just do it. Enjoy the time you have exploring the wonderful world around you.
