If your had the chance to spend a couple weeks to a few months studying abroad, which of these places would you go?



Would you do something with your major, something of interest, or just go to a place you have always wanted to go?

http://www.bestsemester.com



Australia: Semester at Wesley Institute - narrowed toward art students but anyone is welcome



Oxford: Semester of studies at Oxford - narrowed towards honor students and students of Classics, English & Literature, Theology & Religious Studies, Philosophy, and History



Japan: Summer in Japan - Requires a semester taking Japanese beforehand - Narrowed towards education students but anyone is welcome - spend time in japanese classrooms helping teaching kids english



England/Ireland - Three weeks learning and viewing the areas of england and ireland - open to all students.







also available are



China - Semester - Learn chinese/teach orphanage kids english / intern with an international business in shanghi - narrowed toward business students but open to all.



Uganda - Semester - Open to all



Middle East - Based in Cairo - Semester - Open to all



Russia - semester - open to all - spend time with russian family



Latin America - semester - open to all - spend time with latin american family

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LA - Semester at LA Film Studies - narrowed toward film students

American Studies - Washington DC - government students

Contemporary Music Center (CMC) on Martha's Vineyard - music students

Washington Journalism Center - DC - journalism students

Multiple Choice Poll -



I myself am debating the first four, but which would you take?







oh and the Japan trip gives you 50 viewing hours for education majors on top of semester credits and other stuff.

so i just read some more info about these and WOW oxford sounds..... amazing.



Screw a semester I want to finish school there, lol.

Probably China or Russia. I've always wanted to go to St. Petersburg. China is appealing simply because it's undergoing SO much change right now. I'd love to be a resident observer for a while.

Japan or China.

Oxford - Philosophy

China would also be an interesting experience, for the reason Amy mentioned, and the teaching experience in Japan would be cool, if you're heading towards a teaching career.



I have a friend who is doing his MPhil at Oxford and he has been having an amazing experience. One thing to bear in mind is that aside from tuition and such, England is quite expensive compared to the U.S. Not only is the pound strong against the dollar right now, but stuff just flat out costs more.

I'd choose Oxford because it's so close to the rest of Europe and you could have many different types of adventures over the course of the semester.

I just have always wanted to go Australia since I was like 3

No option for Canada?



I chose Japan, Australia and China. My sister studied abroad in Australia and loved it.

I'd hop on board for Russia. Egypt sounds pretty interesting too. Uganda would be eye opening. Latin America is on my top ten travel list. Oh Hell, they're all great.



What are you studying in university?



Also, I have a preference toward self-guided tourism, so any of the options that are too "planned" would be out in my book.

I choose Russia or the US mainly because I just want to go to those countries!



I actually wouldn't want to study abroad, doing nursing anyway, because it's damn hard enough doing it here.. add in not knowing anyone, and the fact that there's no way I could afford that!!

OH and that due to different countries regulations I don't know if my qualifications would actually be recognized when I got back here!!! And would then have to do another course..



So yeah flag!

Major 1: Physics/Mathematics

Major 2: Electronic Engineering

Minor 1: Creative Writing



well technically right now its a BA/BS program, so its a double bachelors.



although I'm highly considering to change it to:



Major 1: Physics/Math

Minor 1: Creative Writing

Minor 2: Fine Arts

Minor 3: Philosophy



Or making philosophy the major and moving physics to a minor.







I think I'm going to try to get the Oxford program, but its for upper classmen honors only - So I guess we'll see. Maybe I could do two...

Arent you in england Iamjen? If I end up going, I'll be looking for some people around the UK I can crash at after/before the semester starts that could show me around. Payment would be witty sarcastic entertainment and veggie recipes... so if you know anyone or.. <cough>. :-p



wouldnt be till summer/fall 08 though.





They all DO sound really cool though.

i am surprised by all of the votes for japan and china....

those are two places that i would not go to...



i voted for england/ireland, though any of the others (besides the afore mentioned) would be great.

why not japan or china, pgor?

sorry, OA - just saw your question!!



No other reason than those two countries hold no personal appeal to me- I don't have any big reasons why - they just don't? In speaking with people about travelling abroad - China and Japan are the least two mentioned, that is why I was surprised by all the votes here for them. Although- it does reaffirm my belief that the people on this board are very diverse- which is a good thing.



I should not say I would never go there to visit - mayhap that there are just other places I would visit first.



After re-reading my original post, I see how it rings of negativity.... sorry, was just in a crap mood that day!

The four that you're debating on are the ones that appeal the least to me. Uganda would be my first choice, followed by Egypt, Latin America, and China. Manily to experience the cultural differences.

I'd like to add Latin America to my votes.



It would be a lot of fun to communicate with native Spanish speakers again. When I went to Spain, the people there were more focused on impressing me with their English skills than letting me practice my Spanish!

I would love to travel to all of those countries, but to study, I would pick Australia or England/Ireland. I have been to those countries and toured some of the schools. I think I would have an easier time focusing on coursework than I would in a "more" foreign (ie: non- english speaking/place I had never been to) country. I would be distracted by trying to see as much as I could and learn as much as I could about the culture.

Latin America, then China.



I second what veggiejanie said. My study abroad experience taught me what I should and should not do in a future study abroad trip to get the most out of it.

I did a summer semester in China for architecture. It was amazing and I want to go back. I'd always had an interest in Asia, plus I wanted to take advantage of the travel to experience some place completely different than what I was used to. That was back in 1999, but you could definately see the contrast between the ancient ways and their strive to westernize. While you can see the variety from city to city, some cities like Beijing show the entire spectrum from traditional to western. Modern amenities are nice, but it was sad ... and scary to see the changes. Can you imagine 1+ billion people driving cars there? Yikes. Just with bikes, the streets were full.