Do you want to study abroad for a semester or a year? There are college study abroad programs that you can enroll in. These can be done on your own after you finish college courses in the states or you can apply through your school. When you choose a program there are certain points to look for:
Make sure the study abroad program offers proper credits that will go towards your degree.
Ensure the program is affordable and all-inclusive with room and board rather than independent.
Speak with your school about exchange programs.
Some universities have ties with foreign schools throughout Europe. These ties ensure that everything is taken care of with a lower tuition than going on your own to study abroad. If you do look separately from your current university then you need to make certain you can still earn your degree credits. They must transfer back to the US university you are in or the European school needs to accept your credits and give you a degree at the end. Also with programs abroad you want to have housing you can trust with room and board to alleviate any financial constraints. This is better than going abroad where you cannot afford to live and go to school. It happens a lot more than you might imagine due to programs that do not cover all costs for essential living, dining, and school.
CIEE
CIEE has more than 200 programs in 41 countries. They offer scholarships, grants, and a way to get the education you want. You can search their programs at www.ciee.org to determine if they offer what you need in your education.
AIFS
A smaller program with only 20 countries represented you can still study abroad and earn a full degree.
CEA
CEA has over 40 locations. You are able to immerse yourself in a new culture, learning the language, while studying the degree program you want. Many of their programs are about social science, government, business, international business, and liberal arts.
CCIS
Like other locations talked about in this article, CCIS has at least 20 countries to choose from and a host of programs. For example you could spend time learning business management in Paris, Chennai India, Turkey, Australia, and many other places.
CSA
The CSA or Center for Study Abroad is a 20 year old program. They offer programs for students to study languages throughout Europe, Asia, Latin America, and Oceania. They also offer degree programs in other areas such as business, international trade and similar options.
US News List
Every year the US News creates a report about colleges, degree programs, and study abroad programs. After looking at information for spring 2014 the company published a list of top schools with top study abroad programs. Now the universities are located in the USA; however, they offer degree programs in partnership with locations all over Europe, Asia, Latin America, and Oceania.
Here is the list:
American University
Acadia University
Beloit College
Boston University
Butler University
Carleton College
Centre College
College of St. Benedict
Dartmouth College
Dickinson College
Elon University
Goucher College
Kalamazoo College
Lee University
Lewis and Clark College
Macalester College
Michigan State University
Middlebury College
New York University
Northeastern University
Oberlin College
Stanford
St. John’s University
St. Olaf College
Syracuse University
U of Chicago
U of Evansville
U of Minnesota
U of Texas
Webster University
There are no rankings given here. Instead, the colleges are listed in alphabetical order. There are ways to find out the rankings if it matters. What is more important is that any university on this list is considered to have one of the best college study abroad programs available in the nation. If you choose anyone of these universities then you know you can go abroad if you wish to. You might not feel like going abroad now or think you can afford it, but you can also keep it as an option.
Keep your options open
There are a lot of reasons you should access a college for study abroad programs in your senior year of high school. The biggest reason is options. If you give yourself the option to go abroad whether you think it is something you want or not, then you can decide later if things change in your life.
You may find there are scholarships through your school or you will pay $3,000 more a semester for the privilege to go abroad on funding through federal loans. There are certainly scholarships for studying abroad. There are also discounts through the right schools. When you choose a university with a top program for going abroad you also know there is a good foundation and relationship between the two locations to make your transition easier.
Volunteer Abroad Programs
A last option to consider among the various listed above are volunteer abroad programs. These programs allow you to learn, interact socially, as well as volunteer.
Volunteering can be a good way to look great in front of prospective employers. It may also lead to internships or jobs after you have graduated. With most colleges linking to volunteer abroad programs you certainly have plenty to think about.
Now you understand the options and choices you can make for college study abroad programs. Whether you are ready to make a decision or are already packing you have the facts. There are definitely more things to work out such as exchange programs where you go abroad and a foreign student comes over. You can even exchange rooms or parents in terms of living arrangements. You also have summer programs, volunteering, internships and much more that may work out for you. Lastly do not forget about the health clearances you will need to travel abroad and the passport. These are the little details that may help you decide on going or not going.
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