Let me offer my personal opinion here: Study abroad programs are as expensive as they are interesting (with the exception of exchange programs). So, why am I saying this? Well, let’s see. There’s this company - Travel for Teens - that is offering a variety of such programs this summer. Prices, of course, start at US$2485 for a single trip to US$12,500 for a whole summer’s worth of travel.

I’m not saying that the company is overcharging, but that travelling (of any kind) is expensive. Is is really necessary for students to undergo such programs? Admittedly, Americans are probably known as the least culturally-sensitive people in the whole of the Northern Hemisphere. Over half of Americans don’t even have international passports.  So, any sort of exposure would be great.

But $12,500 for just one summer? Please… save it for college. That amount would probably pay for one whole year’s worth of living expenses - almost anywhere you study too. There are a variety of options still available to gain international exposure: Exchange programs, overseas internships, overseas contracts, etc.

Of course, if that kind of money is just a drop in the bucket for your family, then there’s no reason why you shouldn’t participate in study abroad programs. Besides being a form of "holidaying", these programs have been proven to be useful (e.g. developing cultural sensitivity, expanding horizons, possible networking opportunities, etc.)