If you are thinking about studying abroad, but not sure whether to enroll in a long semester or a short-semester program, we have got you covered. Many schools give students the option to study overseas for an entire fall or spring term or to just spend a handful of weeks over the summer picking up a few credits. This can be a decision that will likely affect your workload when you return to campus and might even influence your graduation status.
Here are a few pros and cons for each option that will hopefully make your decision a little bit easier.
Time Makes a Difference
Studying abroad can be an overwhelming experience for those who haven’t traveled out of the country or been away from home for that amount of time. Taking the shorter semester abroad may feel more like a speedy vacation, rather than living away for a few months. Though the short term could end up being just as thrilling if you savor each day of your time abroad.
However, you’re likely to get a better taste of the culture if you’re studying the long term abroad. For example, you’ll have more opportunities to form friendships with locals, learn the language, and visit some local attractions that aren’t in the tour guide book.
Abroad Friends
Shorter semesters usually enroll less students. Many would see this as an opportunity to get know the members of a smaller group on a more personal level. Yet, this does leave you with less time to really form lasting friendships that might have needed more time to develop.
A longer trip usually means more students. This will give you more people to hang out with a longer time to let friendships develop. Unfortunately, as we all learned in high school, larger groups can also lead to cliques forming. You probably don’t want to have a group of mean girls who exclude others because they’re not wearing pink on Wednesdays.
Though whichever semester you choose, I can assure you that you’ll make friends for a lifetime. Walking the streets of a foreign city, depending on each other while experiencing the crazy nightlife abroad, and even getting lost for two hours despite your destination being 20 minutes away can form memories that create an everlasting bond.
Abroad Romances
If you’re only over there for a handful of weeks, it’s going to be very difficult to get any real sparks flying between you and that hottie you’ve never seen on campus. Things will have to heat up quickly and smoothly without any hitches. Although, with less students enrolled you’ll have less competition. If you already have someone waiting for you back at home, they’ll appreciate you gone for only a span of weeks instead of months.
It’s never surprising to hear one of your friends returning to campus after a semester abroad having found “the one” while over there. If things click over there, it’s like one big vacation that you both get to have with each other without the realities waiting for you back at home. Do beware, although, if you pick a dud in the beginning you might have fired your only shot. It’s still small enough of a group that everyone knows everyone else’s business and who has been with who. Not only might other potential interests look at you as tainted meat, but you don’t want to develop a reputation of someone who gets around. If you’ve got someone back at home, you two are in for one long semester.
FOMO
Regardless of how long you choose to stay over there and how much fun you’re having, you’re still likely going to experience some fear of missing out. With the shorter-semester you’re missing out for a shorter period of time…but what you’re missing out on is SUMMER.
If you decide to go with the long-semester, your FOMO will probably reach a whole new level, but at least you’re not missing any of your summer break.
Don’t forget the “study” in Study Abroad
When considering studying abroad, the “school” aspect of the trip often gets pushed aside. A summer term is a great way to pick up additional credits so when you get back to campus in the fall you’re already ahead (or finally caught up). The shorter semester has a faster pace and deadlines are shorter which might not suit everybody. The course selection will also likely be less limited.
If you’re a procrastinator, you might prefer taking the longer semester trip because the shorter trip’s deadlines could stress you out. This is especially true if you’re tired from group trips or hangovers. Your course selection will still not be as wide as it would be back home on campus. For this reason, a lot of students find themselves returning to school behind in their course requirements.
Now that you’ve been thinking about how you’re going to spend your summer soaking up the sun in Ibiza, or chasing down beers at the bars in Berlin, sign up for whichever term suits you best. You won’t regret it!
