Summer vs. Semester Study Abroad
It’s a bit harder to generalize summer study abroad because it can take such a variety of forms: there’s short programs, such as the program I did last summer through DIS (which, psst, you can read more about here), very general programs or very specific/specialized programs, and programs through Columbia which Barnard students can apply to as well.
However, there are some important differences between the two that you should keep in mind while choosing the right study abroad path for you. As someone who has done both, I am going to outline some of the major differences I've noticed between the two.
Deadlines! First thing first: you need to apply to programs and get accepted to them before you can enroll in them. As I mentioned in my post about study abroad applications, the process for study abroad is much, much less *ahem* strenuous than the application process for college admissions, so you shouldn't worry about needing to do the college app process all over again. However, a good thing to keep in mind is that deadlines can hit you really hard, especially if you are planning on spring semester programs: most often, their deadlines are in the beginning of October (or sometimes even September), which is often only a couple weeks after the semester begins. On the other hand, summer programs (and many fall programs) have a deadline in March. Though that's roughly the same amount of time between applications being due and actually going abroad, it can be a bit rough getting yourself together at the beginning of the semester and gathering all the application materials, including letters of recommendation.
Visas. Many countries which are popular study abroad destinations--such as Spain and the U.K., but also Japan and Argentina, to name a few--do not require visas for U.S. passport holders for stays up to 90 days. Since my summer study abroad program in Sweden and Denmark was only six weeks / 42 days, I didn't need to get a visa for studying abroad over the summer. However, for my semester-long program, which will last a total of 109 days (which I know because it says so on my visa), I had to get an Italian study visa. That process can be very long or very short depending on where you're headed (I personally had a longer process with getting an Italian visa than my friends who were studying abroad in the U.K. and Spain had with their visas).
Financial aid. Unfortunately, since Barnard's financial aid wouldn't normally extend to summer classes, it also does not extend to summer study abroad: any class you take, whether through a local university, an American program, or a Columbia program, has to be paid by you. There are still a number of programs which offer scholarships, including for summer study abroad, but financial aid won't be coming from Barnard. When it comes to semester- or year-long programs, Barnard's financial aid will cover you so you pay approximately what you'd pay for a semester in New York (more about that here). That means that it shouldn't be more expensive than a semester in New York ("should be," but we won't talk about weekend trips and excursions which are very popular among study abroad students...).
Credit transfer. Before studying abroad for the semester, you have to enter the names, a description, and a sample syllabus for all the classes you're taking while abroad. Then, depending on whether you want the class to count for major, minor, Foundations, or elective credit, the relevant office or department will overlook the information you've put in. After they have reviewed the courses, you can check online to see if they have accepted or denied your request or if they need more information to make a decision. It's a pretty straightforward process which largely saves you from playing email tag. Summer study abroad credits, on the other hand, count as elective credits. You can probably also petition for classes you take over the summer to count for Foundations or major requirements, but the process is much less streamlined and you may have to get in contact with the Registrar or the department in order to get them to count for those requirements.
Social considerations. The last difference to keep in mind, and perhaps the one least talked about but extremely important to consider is the different impact of studying abroad during the school year and during the summer. During the summer, many Barnard students will leave New York, for any number of reasons. Even if you and all your friends are more or less in the same area, it's not the same as spending most of your time on campus, going to classes, getting a meal together in the dining hall, or going to the library to study together. Summer study abroad, in my experience, is not like semester study abroad in that you're not putting your Barnard experience on pause for a while. During the semester, when you're still connected to the Barnard community via email updates, social media, and talking to friends who are still in New York, it can be a bit harder to think about life in New York going on without you. There are classes you might not get a chance to take, lectures you won't get to attend, events you're inevitably going to miss while being abroad. Of course, that's not to say there isn't (quite literally) a whole world waiting ahead for you while you study abroad, but it's something you need to think about before you leave. Studying abroad can be a wonderful, eye-opening, life-changing experience, but it's not for everyone and that's okay.