<p>Several very good points have been made, and I’d like to reiterate them.</p>
<p>High student participation in study abroad at one school does not necessarily mean that the programs at that school are superior to others. On the other hand, low student participation in study abroad does not necessarily mean that the programs are poor.</p>
<p>I think that study abroad programs should be evaluated on the bases of duration, immersion, and course difficulty. Spending four weeks in an English-speaking dormitory with your fellow English-speaking classmates and taking a minimal courseload do not an enriching experience make. Spending a semester in an intensive language and area study program while living with a host family makes all the difference in the world.</p>