Benefits of Summer Study Abroad

The benefits of studying abroad during the summer

What you need to know:

• Studying abroad during the summer offers a number of benefits including cost savings, flexibility, and specialized courses
• Almost every major study abroad program provider offers a diverse number of study abroad courses

Is that fall semester knocking??! Say it ain't so! I hate to be Lady Obvious, but let's face the facts - summer 2011 is just about over. Time to trade in your beach towels for your text books and your fruit shakes for your lattes.

But lets skip ahead to after those first few weeks of classes, when your pledge for "more-focus-less-doodling" quickly wanes and you start daydreaming of summer 2012. Don't spend yet another summer working your old high school job or lounging around the local lake. Make next summer your most memorable yet. Think bigger. Think further. Think study abroad.

No matter if its Chile or China, England or Egypt, you only need a few summer months to gain new perspectives about a country, all while enjoying academic, career, intercultural, and personal growth! Plus, summer study abroad programs offer benefits that an entire semester abroad cannot claim. For instance, are you scared at the thought of financing...

"...4 months abroad? My wallet's already whimpering!"

Avoid High Costs: Summer study abroad programs are typically short-term, ranging from 2 to 12 weeks. By shaving off the extra time spent abroad (coupled with a Go Overseas scholarship) you will give your bank account some breathing room without cutting out any of the fun-factors. This means extra cash for more weekend travel excursions or a bigger welcome home party. Plus, you wouldn't want to...

"...MISS THE BIG GAME?!! Are you crazy?"

Maintain On-Campus Commitments: Volleyball player or huge baseball fan? Chair of the annual international festival on campus? Can't bear the thought of missing any late night pizza runs with your friends? Summer study abroad programs will not affect your regular on-campus commitments (besides giving you the best stories to share back home). What's more, if your academic commitments do not allow for a semester overseas, a summer program helps you to...

Summer weather: a big selling point for study abroad students

...Avoid the "Super Senior" Victory Lap

Stay on Track and Earn Credit Abroad: Earning credit during your summer study abroad is a simple solution for freeing up scheduling space in your upcoming semesters, counterbalancing time spent exploring your "undecided" major, or just allowing you to manage any rigorous course demands. So nurses, engineers, and you triple-major-over-achievers, get on board! Luckily, many short-term programs are subject-oriented, allowing for a wide range of...

...Awesome Specialized Courses

Enhance your Learning Experience: Be it sharpening your Spanish language through immersion or getting your hands dirty in the international medical field, there is a summer study abroad program out there to fit your needs and complement your academic experience.

Summer study programs give you a taste of what life is like 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. If you're anything like my friend Andrew, you'll spend every college summer exploring a new country. And if you're anything like yourself, you may find spending a summer studying abroad is one of the best decisions you've ever made.

Why did YOU study abroad over the summer?

Additional Resources:

• What you ALMOST forgot to pack for your semester studying abroad.
• Still unsure if you're fully prepared? Check out our study abroad checklist.
• Study abroad can be as easy as A - B - C.