<p>I looked at the Dartmouth site for study abroad programs in the country (language) my daughter chose, and there was only one program, which was summer language study only. It also happened to largely replicate a program my daughter had done in high school (same institution). So I know for a fact that if my daughter had attended Dartmouth, her opportunities for study abroad would have been reduced.</p>
<p>Was your Dartmouth program open to students from other schools? What sort of housing did you have? Did you take classes in the language of your host country? Did you have an opportunity to befriend and socialize with students in the host country?</p>
<p>I also think you misunderstand what other programs typically offer. My d’s program had organized trips within her host country – but she and the other students also were able to choose their own university courses and to travel around and explore their host city extensively on their own. The programs you describe seem highly structured and very limited – for example, the “Philosophy in Edinburgh” program you listed seems to require that the students take 3 specific philosophy courses during their semester – it is not clear from the web site whether they can take any additional courses or electives.</p>
<p>As far as I can tell, students who opt to enroll directly to the University of Edinburgh through their study abroad program – <a href=“http://www.ed.ac.uk/studying/visiting-exchange/study-abroad[/url]”>http://www.ed.ac.uk/studying/visiting-exchange/study-abroad</a> - would be able to choose any courses. Columbia student could opt to spend a full academic year at Edinburgh, studying whatever they wanted. </p>
<p>My d. was a poli sci major and was able to take courses to satisfy major requirements while abroad. She had no complaint about the academics – and her grades earned abroad seemed about the same as what she earned at Barnard/Columbia for equivalent courses-- so I have no reason to believe that the academic expectations were materially different. In any case, it looks like a Dartmouth student who wants to go to Edinburgh would have to be studying either philosophy or religion – whereas the U of Edinburgh program would be open to Columbia & Barnard students in all disciplines.</p>