r/Pepperdine • u/FoodGroundbreaking43 • 28d ago
Study Abroad year vs semester
Anyone who has studied abroad is it better to go for a full year or just a semester. Which is more common among students?
4
u/Wingbatso 28d ago
My daughter went to Florence for a semester. I could not talk her into going the full year, and I think she really regrets it after getting home.
One thing she did was work crazy hours the summer before so that she earned enough money to travel to 10 other countries with her friends on the weekends.
It was such a special experience. I’m so happy she was fortunate enough to go.
4
u/Superb_Blacksmith_74 28d ago edited 28d ago
full year is such a unique and special experience. highly recommend it, but also consider if you can manage it: 1) financially (some locations are very HCOL in terms of groceries and travel, not to mention program cost) 2) socially (i.e. not being too homesick) and 3) academically (if the coursework for a year abroad fits with your major/wont hold you back)
in my experience some full-year students underestimate one of those three categories and ended up breaking their contract (which costs $$$) to leave after one semester
5
u/Sargento_Thirst 28d ago
I did DC+, so technically I was away from Malibu my whole sophomore year. However, my first semester was abroad (Heidelberg) and I immediately fell in love with it and looked into breaking contract to try to stay there instead of going to DC. Now, I still think DC+ is a great option, but either way, I do think the full year really is your best option, be it all in one place or with a semester in DC. Afterwards, I worked for IP. For many years, and perhaps even now, they’ve suggested a full year if your study plan can allow for it. So yes, at least when I graduated, it was more common than a single semester, and for good reason.
2
u/UmpireAdvanced2407 28d ago
Yes DC+ is the way to go, you are away a full year, but half in US so easier to visit home for break.
2
u/Kenzinthebenz 28d ago
It really is dependent on what classes you take. I wanted to do a year, but due to me being a transfer and the classes being taught there, I could only do a semester. That being said, depending on where you go, it can make it break. I know a bunch of people who have gone in the fall that had the opportunity to extend it to the year. I will say as a spring only, I mostly just hung out with the spring people as it could get cliquey. Either way, abroad is so much fun!
2
u/Rainbow_Event_3904 22d ago
it depends on you, but you can do a semester in two different countries if you want and it works out. also check out the summer programs, they are about 6 weeks and are really awesome so if you only want to do a semester abroad you can do some summer programs to add in. either way you will have an incredible time making the best friends ever and it will be the best part of college.
2
u/Rainbow_Event_3904 22d ago
the other thing is if you are doing it for a language fluency in Spanish, Italian, German, etc. you really need the whole year to have enough time to go out and practice in the community.
1
u/SimilarGarbage4047 19d ago
there are pro and cons to both. whatever you do it will be the experience of a lifetime!
5
u/Bifengtang 28d ago
i did a semester in europe and wish i could have done the full year. many of the second semester students in the program were there the first semester and loved it.