"Study abroad programs range from high school cultural exchanges to college-level classes, often for credit. In order to choose a program that best fits your needs, you will want to find out what kind of students participate in the program and what sort of accommodations are provided. In programs that have large groups of students who speak the same language, there is a trade-off. You may feel more comfortable in the community, but you will not have the same opportunity to befriend other international students. Dorm life provides a better opportunity to mingle with fellow students, but there is less of a chance to experience the local scene. If you live with a family, there is potential to build lifelong friendships with natives and to experience day-to-day life in more depth, but conditions can vary greatly from family to family.

A good resource for finding programs that cater to your particular interests is www.studyingaustralia.com, which has links to various semester abroad programs based on a variety of critera, including desired location and focus of study."

Henry, Genf