The TRAVELER'S JOURNAL: April eleventh, with guides for pursuing foreign studies.

All travel is educational, but last year several hundred thousand American high school and college students actually attended classes abroad. Foreign study can be a wonderfully enriching experience that improves a student's language skills, adds focus to academic pursuits and broadens world perspectives. Yet study abroad can be costly, and not all programs are created equal. A recent surge in institutions offering educational options also makes a wise choice complicated.

The primary selection criteria should always be how the student's academic and personal goals relate to both the program and its geographic location. How is the program administered and by whom? What's the application process? How much language skill is required? Are course credits transferrable? What housing is available? What are the complete costs? How much cross-cultural preparation and re-entry guidance is provided?

Picking high school courses often requires more checking than college programs associated with established universities. Here are good places to start. The Council on Standards for International Educational Travel lists 62 organizations offering foreign programs for high schoolers. The Council of International Educational Exchange focuses on university level programs. Peterson's Study Abroad and the Institute of International Education's The Academic Year Abroad are both helpful compendiums. Finally, the Alternative Travel Directory lists adult education courses abroad, as well as teaching and volunteer opportunities.

FMI For sources of sanctioned foreign study programs:

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