Parallels

American students are participating in study abroad programs in increasing numbers. While there is significant research on the first year of transition to college, little is known about the study abroad student's first semester in the program. This study is designed to determine the parallels, if any, between student transition experiences during the first semester of college in the USA and the first semester of study abroad for American students. The research indicates that students planning to study abroad are in need of increased information on transition issues and that study abroad students often face issues more challenging than those of their first semester of study USA