Study abroad not thru the university..

Niihla10 · 01-29-2007, 05:23 PM

I'm a sophomore at the ross bschool @ university of michigan and I really want to study abroad this summer with focus on a business cirriculum. However the bschool only offers a 3week program and it is extremely overpriced (like 5k). I was wondering how i would go about finding a study abroad program that isnt through our university...

thanks

soccerguy315 · 01-29-2007, 10:03 PM

Here is the website for my school that has programs that are not affiliated with the school: http://www.wm.edu/revescenter/studya...rams/nonwm.php

your school probably has a similar site, but the links from the above link should get you started. There are many established and respected independent programs.

Niihla10 · 01-30-2007, 03:37 PM

those seem like just study abroad programs..not an actual university that you are enrolled in. is there a difference?

curiouser · 01-30-2007, 05:06 PM

Your biggest concern about NOT going through your own school is whether any credits you take from the chosen university abroad will transfer.

Many a student chose to go outside his/her school's own program and struggled mightily to get the credits transferred. Make sure, before you go any further, that your own school will work with you on this (and get detailed info about it) before you get your heart set on choosing a program to attend.

I've known personally of some students who didn't get all the credits they hoped for which delayed their graduation. That's okay, as long as you are aware of the possibility going in....

Niihla10 · 01-30-2007, 09:10 PM

I think my bschool is REALLY stingy about transfer credit and there are only a couple of study abroad programs through it since its a really small school (class of 350!). I'm not so much worried about transferring credit as I am of just getting the experience/learning in a different country.

soccerguy315 · 01-30-2007, 10:26 PM

I'm not really sure the difference between school programs and independent programs, but if you aren't really worried about the credits, the independent ones will still give you the experience you're looking for.

Niihla10 · 01-31-2007, 11:53 PM

This one program I'm looking at is 5 weeks long and ~$3600 which includes everything but airefare to england. It is 2 weeks in england, 1 week in spain, 1 in france, and 1 in prague. I'm jsut wondering if the 3600 is way overpriced?

kenshi · 02-01-2007, 08:39 AM

www.studyabroad.com has a list of schools and private org (I.E cea)

Study abroad is sometimes just a trip while exchange is where you go to a Uni and take courses.

Its best to go through a school in your state so you pay instate fees.

Niihla10 · 02-01-2007, 10:36 AM

Yeah..michigan exchange stuff is so expensive since i'm out of state. is it possible to go through an in-state college even though i'm not enrolled there?

kenshi · 02-01-2007, 02:55 PM

Yes but contact the other schools study abroad advisor ask what you need to do they may have your advisor fill out a transient form so you can get the credit

soccerguy315 · 02-01-2007, 09:57 PM

That's $700 a week, which is like $100 a day. Doesn't seem overpriced at all to me with the basic math. I mean, you have to sleep somewhere, and with the exchange rate, $100 a day for the non England countries is 77 Euros. Travel in those countries, meals, etc... doesn't seem like too much.

Would you be taking any classes on this trip? Or just traveling? There's nothing wrong with just traveling either.

lindz0722 · 02-01-2007, 10:55 PM

i studied abroad with API (www.academicintl.com) last summer in spain and loved it; i'd recommend checking them out. it's one of the better-priced companies that i found and we had a ton of trips included.

Niihla10 · 02-01-2007, 11:07 PM

yeah we'd be taking classes as well...the only problem is that its smack in the middle of the summer..so it would be difficult to intern/work

gh05t · 02-02-2007, 12:02 AM

You can use the first part of the summer to brush up on (or learn the basics of) the languages in preparation for the trip. When your get back you can spent time in leasiure[ly reading], or just relaxing as people should over their vacations.

$3600 sounds way underpriced, especially considering the current exchange rate. Are you sure it is not 3600 GBP (~$7000) or 3600 euro (~4500)? Even if it is 3600 euro it is still reasonable, although 3600 GBP is sort of pricey.

Do they include meals? What about the additional transportation costs involved in getting from Spain to France to Prague?

If you decide on going book your air tickets as far in advance as possible because it is cheaper that way.

Can you PM me (or post) the programs website? I already have plans for this summer , but it sounds like something I might want to look into for next Summer.