In the next couple of months, I have to decide which semester of next year I want to spend studying abroad in England. Upon hearing advice from some of my classmates who recently went abroad, in addition to hearing the views of my friends who are also currently deciding when to go abroad, I’ve heard a lot of positives and negatives surrounding each semester. Now, their advice has gotten so muddled that I still have no clue when I want to go. So, I thought I could list the reasons that I’ve gathered all in one place so that I could make it easier for myself as well as for anyone else who is in the same situation.
Fall
Pros
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Having a Shorter Semester
For most of the programs in Europe, the fall semester is a few months shorter than the spring semester which, for those who are nervous to be traveling so far away from home, may be comforting. Also, if one wishes to stay past when their program ends to travel more, they can stay in Europe during their winter break before returning to Kenyon.
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Experiencing the Holidays in Europe
My friends who studied abroad in Europe in the fall, as well as several movies, have told me that the holiday season in Europe is a beautiful, magical thing. As someone who has not experienced much snow, experiencing the beauty of a snow-covered England is something that definitely sounds enticing.
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Having All Summer to Prepare to Go Abroad
After finishing sophomore year at Kenyon, someone who plans to go abroad in the fall has three months to pack and make preparations to go abroad rather than the one month of winter break one has to prepare to go abroad in the spring. Three months is a lot more time to be able to save up money from a summer job, visit with friends from home and from Kenyon, and rest after a stressful second semester of sophomore year.
Cons
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Missing Meeting New Members of the Student Activities in Which You are Involved
I’m involved in a few student organizations on campus, and I know I would be sad to miss auditions for my a cappella group or the chance to meet new freshmen at the activities fair in the fall.
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Missing Holidays With Your Family
For me, one of the only times during the year that I see my grandparents is at Thanksgiving, and I know that the holidays are an important time for many families to get together. Since my grandparents can’t travel, I would be sad to miss out on quality time with them by going abroad in the fall.
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Missing Kenyon in the Fall
Kenyon in the fall is just an incredibly beautiful place, and it would be sad to miss Middle Path covered with leaves. But, Kenyon is beautiful no matter the season, and its beauty will still be there when I come back.
Spring
Pros
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Experiencing Better Weather
While winter in Europe does have its appeal, the weather will definitely be nicer in the spring. I’ve heard from friends who went abroad in the spring that having nice weather and being able to travel during spring break while abroad was a highlight of their abroad experiences.
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Having All Summer to Travel Once Your Program Ends
If someone goes abroad their spring semester, they have an entire summer to continue to travel once their program ends (if they have the means to do so). Since the main point of going abroad for many people is the opportunity to travel, this is an excellent way to extend that opportunity.
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Spending Time At Kenyon Right Before Leaving
Rather than having a large break from school before not only beginning school again but also temporarily moving to another country, going abroad in the spring makes it so that you only have to get used to one of those things. An extra bonus is returning to Kenyon at the same time everyone begins the new year rather than returning mid-year; it adds a layer of normalcy to the return experience, which I’ve heard can be just as stressful as leaving.
Cons
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Jumping Right Into Senior Year When You Come Back to Kenyon
One thing I have heard from friends who went abroad in the fall is that it was nice to have a “transition semester” in the spring of their junior year between going abroad and coming back to Kenyon for senior year. If one doesn’t have this transition semester, it can be stressful to jump right into senior year after returning from abroad.
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Missing Saying Goodbye to Friends Who are Seniors
If one goes abroad in the spring, they miss the graduation of their friends who are a year older. This is something that many of my friends who studied abroad in the fall cited as a reason they did not want to go abroad in spring.
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Missing the Housing Lottery
This one has an easy fix in that you can fill out a proxy form for someone else to turn in for you. But, the housing lottery at Kenyon is stressful enough when you’re at Kenyon, so when you’re abroad and aren’t as much in the know about rooming situations, it can be much more stressful.
In addition to the above pros and cons, it’s also important to look at the specific program you’re choosing and the classes they offer each semester. Also, your close friends’ decisions about when to go abroad might also factor into your decision, but it’s important to put you and your personal needs above all else. Going abroad is about experiencing something new; it’s about the individual experience. While it may be scary to have fewer friends at Kenyon the semester you aren’t abroad, Kenyon is full of nice, new people with whom you can create friendships. This can be an incredibly tough decision, but just remember to choose whatever is best for you.