mawata wrote:This might be a random question, but is anyone planning on studying abroad? I'm wondering when the best time to do it is. Clearly not first year, but would 2L be reasonable? or do most people do it their final year?
Rising BLS 2L here.
If you're competitive for OCI (read: tech background and ~top 25% or no tech and top 10%), 2L Fall would be the worst time to do it because you'll want that semester to interview and such. Beyond that...
Some programs are only available during one semester, and you can't study abroad in your 3L spring. If you've got BLSConnect access and all the tabs have shown up, look at "International Opportunities" under the "Intellectual Life" tab to see what's available when and contact info for the various program coordinators. (I'm sure they'll be better able to answer this than I am.)
Anecdotally, a lot of people in my section did the Bologna summer program after 1L and all of them seemed really glad that they did.
I know a few people (both 2013 grads) who did semesters abroad, and it seems like when they did it was a matter of personal preference, when the program they wanted was offered, finances, and the effect it would have on GPA/ranking. (Study abroad doesn't count towards your GPA, so on the one hand it's a way to preserve a high GPA but on the other it may cause your ranking to go down as similarly ranked students do well and you stay stagnant.)