More U.S. students are studying abroad

The number of American students who are studying abroad continues to rise.  According to a recent report issued by the Institute of International Education, last year saw an 8% increase in college students who opted for an international study program.

While the largest number of students still go to countries in Western Europe, there has been a marked increase in interest in other parts of the globe.  China is now the 8th most popular country of choice for study abroad programs after a 35% increase in one year, while Argentina, Brazil and India all broke into the list of top 20 countries for the first time.

Andres Oppenheimer, a columnist for the Miami Herald, believes that more Americans should study in Latin America:

…countries in the region could benefit from drawing a larger slice of the hundreds of thousands of U.S. students who will spend time abroad during their college years. … With its benign climates, relatively cheap prices and great lifestyle, Latin America could become a much larger destination for U.S. students. And that would not only be an economic plus for the region, but would help both sides understand each other better.

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