<p>M’s mom, even a 70% percent increase from near zero is a very low number. The article clearly says the numbers pale in comparison to other schools. </p>
<p>As katliamom indicated at elite universities such as HYP or MIT, the number of students on study abroad programs during the academic year is exceedingly small. the Yale registrar stated that less than 10% of Yale students have gone on study abroad programs during the fall/spring semesters. The numbers are even lower at Harvard. Princeton claims14% including non-credit programs. I recall my daughter interviewing for admission to Princeton and asking the representative about their study abroad programs. She was told flat out that students at Princeton simply don’t want to leave. </p>
<p>Some schools make it exceedingly difficult to get credit for study abroad. It used to be nearly impossible to study abroad during the spring semester at Harvard as you had to fly back to take your fall exams in January. I believe Harvard has only ONE full year exchange program with Sciences Po in Paris, for a maximum of two students per year. Full semester programs for credit are also limited. At MIT, they have only two, one with Cambridge University and another with Ecole Polytechnique in France, also available to a limited number of students in specific departments. In many STEM fields, with the number of prerequisite courses and structured curricula, it becomes very difficult to work out a study abroad program and still graduate on time. </p>
<p>A major issue is the reluctance by some universities to grant any credit for classes at other institutions. The reality of study abroad is that they are seldom serious academic programs with few exceptions such as foreign language immersion programs. Combining absence of credits with the reluctance to give up the opportunities they already have on campus, results in very few student leaving. </p>
<p>At some other schools such as Brown, anything goes, in part because of the open curriculum. If you want to study underwater basket weaving in Poitiers for a year, no problem! No wonder 40% or more go on study abroad programs. </p>
<p>At LACs, it is entirely different issue. it seems that by Junior year, students can’t wait to leave the confines of their campus for a semester or year abroad.</p>