To see a video on students who previously studied abroad, click here.
Students studying abroad in Europe this summer did not get much bang for their buck.The dollar declined in value relative to the Euro for the last few years, and many students studying in Europe felt the sting in their wallets as the dollar reached an all-time low relative to the Euro.The exchange rate reached $1.60 for a single Euro in July, compared to July 2006 when a Euro cost $1.26, according to x-rates.com, a Web site that computes exchange rates daily.During the past two years, the dollar lost more than $.30 in value relative to the Euro.The Euro is the official currency of the European Union, a group of 15 European countries. It is the sole currency for more than 320 million Europeans, according to the European Union’s Web site.The University offers both exchange and study abroad programs. An exchange program lasts a semester or a year. Students study at a foreign school with foreign professors and classmates. In the summer abroad programs, students are taught by American professors and have American classmates. Students can also travel abroad with groups from other schools and receive class credit at LSU, Clemmons said.”I lost $400 to $500 in exchange rates alone while studying abroad in Europe this summer,” said Rachel Whitley, sports management junior.Whitley and several other University students traveled with a study abroad program from the University of New Orleans. She said she used Euros everywhere in Europe except for the Czech Republic, where the currency is Crowns.”A meal from McDonald’s is five or six Euros,” Whitley said. “That means $8 or $9 for one meal at McDonald’s.”The London Intercession program was canceled this year because of a lack of enrollment, said Jill Clemmons, Summer Programs coordinator for the Academic Programs Abroad at LSU.”There was a lack of interest for a variety of reasons,” Clemmons said. “Price was definitely one of them.”Each summer abroad program differs in cost. Students pay tuition, airfare and a fee for the program, which includes housing, excursions and possibly meals. The program costs an average of $3,500, with some variations depending on location and meals, according to the Academic Programs Abroad Web site.Chelsea Messa, marketing junior, studied in Europe from the end of May to the beginning of July as part of the LSU in Paris program.”The exchange rate went up the entire time we were there,” Messa said. “I had to call home and ask for more money.”The number of LSU students enrolled in summer abroad programs actually increased from 308 students in 2007 to 353 students in 2008, despite the lagging American economy, according to Clemmons.Clemmons said an increase in summer abroad destinations may be the reason for the overall increased enrollment. Summer abroad trips to Thailand, Tanzania, the Netherlands and the French Alps were added this summer.Herald Leder, interim director of the academic abroad program at LSU, said the exchange rates in countries outside Europe are often more favorable for American students. He said Argentina, Mexico and Tanzania are places where dollars have a favorable exchange rate.”Europe is a little more challenging,” Leder said. “The directors try their best to keep costs low.”Ireland, France and Italy were the most popular destinations in 2007 and 2008, despite the unfavorable exchange rates. The UNO trip to Austria was also popular among LSU students. The traditional European programs are more expensive because of the exchange rates and the higher costs of living, Clemmons said.”Do your planning,” Leder said. “If you plan correctly, you have won half of the price battle. Compared to a vacation of the same length, the summer abroad programs are very affordable,” Leder said. “Plus students get class credit.”Leder said exchange programs are a better value for students than the summer study abroad program. “You can get more and higher scholarships, the cost of living is more comparable to the United States and you can save some money by avoiding the cultural aspects of the summer abroad programs,” Leder said.—-Contact Jack LeBlanc at [email protected]