If you’re intrigued by the idea of a study abroad experience, but you’re not quite sure it will work with your personality, finances, or academic goals, other options are available. I covered the basics of study abroad in Study Abroad: Is It Right For Your College Experience? that will help you get started in your research. If a full semester abroad just doesn’t seem like the right fit, there may be an alternative option that works better for your degree plan.

A study away program is an off-campus semester in the United States. These programs are often specific to your degree and typically take place in large cities. A short term or summer abroad program still takes you out of the country, but not for a full academic semester. I’ll cover these two alternatives to study abroad semesters in this article

Study Away for Real World Experience

The most common reason students opt for an in-country study away program is to take part in an immersive internship. The off-campus program gives the student a taste of what their future career will entail, and they get to add some real experience to their résumé.

Students who want to go into the entertainment industry might spend a semester in Los Angeles or New York City. Political Science majors can go to Washington D.C. or their state capitol as interns. Theater students might go to Chicago or New York City.

Not everyone needs to go to a city that provides a specific experience. Smaller rural colleges and universities offer large city internship programs to give students a broad perspective of what career options will be available. Students choose from a bigger pool of internships, navigate large city living for a semester, and build their future career network.

Short Term and Summer Abroad Programs

Short term and summer abroad programs are geared toward students who can’t spend an academic semester in a foreign country. Some students can’t make it work with their degree plan, some are concerned about additional costs, and others simply don’t see the value in spending a full semester abroad.

These short programs may or may not offer college credit, they are usually specific to the student’s goals or major, and they are typically less expensive than a full semester.

A short term program could be anywhere from one to four weeks. It will be tied to a cultural goal, service project, or professional sneak peek. Students take these trips over winter break, spring break, or during summer. Information on these programs might be hard to find if not many students from your school have taken advantage of them. You might have to get creative in your research. Talk to your college advisor and school’s study abroad office for opportunities sanctioned by the school. This Go Abroad article also has a few ideas to get you started. 

A summer abroad can be great for internships and service projects. These programs can be anywhere from two weeks to the full 15-week summer semester. If it is a credit-based program, then it will work much like a regular semester abroad. Summer programs are often great for language majors. There are also destinations that are simply best experienced during the warm weather season. Again, this might not be something your college commonly offers, so you would need to do your own legwork to find the right program. If you want to earn credit, make sure to sit down with your advisor to go over the details. Your department might require additional coursework in order to issue credit.

Expanding Experience with Study Programs that Fit Your Style

College is a time to expand your horizons and step outside your comfort zone. While a full semester abroad is a great opportunity, it’s just not right for everyone. Find your best fit by exploring all the options available and narrowing down to the off-campus experience that works with your personality, finances, and degree plan. If you’re having trouble with analysis paralysis, contact me for a free strategy session! We’ll work through your goals and circumstances so that you can tailor your search for the right opportunity.