<p>The flip side of the equation is that quite a few of the study abroad programs cost as much, or perhaps even more, than Swarthmore.</p>
<p>Also, don’t forget AP credits. Most Swarthmore students have a couple of extra credits in the bank, so “skipping” a semester would mean taking a fifth course (pass/fail if you like) during two semesters – again, a fairly routine scenario.</p>
<p>I will say that my D and I independently recognized that the cost of the program entered into the equation in considering various study abroad programs. We reached an agreement that a program needed to provide academic, cultural, or horizon expanding value comparable to a semester at Swarthmore. Is the overseas experience something that could be gotten easily outside of a college program, at any time, for lower cost? Or is it a unique opportunity that would be difficult or impossible to duplicate in another context? </p>
<p>The cost implications proved useful in taking the search seriously, as we told our daughter that she would have to make the case that the program of her choice was worth the cost.</p>