A friend’s daughter was just admitted to her first choice -Northeastern. My friend was joyous, but said that her daughter was initially upset. The daughter was admitted, but was told that she was enrolled in the Freshman Abroad semester. Some students are chosen to attend the school’s international program for their first semester. There is no box to check off during the admissions process that indicates whether they want to spend their first semester abroad or not. The school makes the determination of which students will study on campus and which ones must study overseas.

The students who are chosen for this program must attend their first semester abroad. If they decline, then their acceptance to the school is rescinded.

What’s up with that? What if the student’s family can’t afford to send their child abroad on top of the $40,000 tuition fee?