Study abroad, simplified

    Deciding between the wide variety of study abroad programs can seem just as difficult as trying to go through life speaking a foreign language. For those students weighing their overseas options, there are pros and cons to every type of program. The most common options are outlined below.

Home-stay: Students live in the homes of resident families, often eating meals together or spending time while using the local language.
    "I wanted to be more immersed in the country to really improve my French, which I thought would come through many of the day-to-day interactions," senior Winston Berkman said.

Dorm or Apartment Living: Students live with other students — American, international or local, depending on the program.
    "It definitely didn't help my language as much as a home-stay would have, [but] it was nice because it was more comfortable for me ... If you feel like you need alone time or independence or a break from the language, I would recommend living in an apartment," senior Lucy McKeon said.

Direct Enrollment: Students are not affiliated with any program; rather, they enroll as a regular student at the university.
    "I chose to direct enroll because financially it makes a lot of sense … I would recommend it to people who have traveled a lot before or who have a good international awareness … It can be really overwhelming, but once you have a foot in the door, it's great," senior Leah Resneck said.

Internship: Students participate in a full-time work experience in the host country as an alternative or supplement to classroom study.
    "You can choose where you want to intern based on what you're studying … The only difficult thing [is that] you're not part of the student culture, so it's a different study abroad experience," senior Rachel Lieber said.

Independent Study: Students work on a project or research paper independently, with support or direction from a program.
    "I would recommend it to someone who knows exactly what they want to do … I spent six weeks completely on my own, with no real advisor … But if you feel like you need … more structure, then I would say it would be better to go for a more traditional study abroad," senior Courtney Morrissey said.

Field Research Program: Students interested in completing research outside of a classroom setting can participate in various programs with a hands-on aspect.
    "It was a combination between being in a classroom and going out in the middle of the jungle and collecting data … I think someone that could do this is someone that is independent and creative, someone like Miss Frizzle from ‘Magic School Bus,' who wants to get in there and learn new things in a totally different context," senior Emily Weir said.

—compiled by Robin Carol