This depends on which semester you go on exchange in! If you do a Fall Exchange then taking time at the end of summer is a beautiful time with great weather. We recommend having a friend with you because initially moving to a new place can be very overwhelming and a lot of people are not there yet to meet up with. 

I would recommend staying at the end of your exchange (internship permitting) because the weather is better and you are more comfortable traveling at that point. It can be a great chance to leave on a great note and have some additional fun when you don’t need to worry about class!

More than you think!! If you want your top option, especially if it is a popular school with limited spots definitely make a really in-depth matrix. We recommend reaching out to upper-year students to gain inspiration on what they included.

The ideal number is a group of 4-5! With four people it is easier to find accommodations and tables at restaurants, and you have a friend to sit with on transportation. Five people is also a good number if the place you are visiting has many different attractions because then you can split into two groups depending on interests.

Unfortunately, you typically cannot take less than a full course load equivalent while on exchange. Some schools have much easier classes than at Smith so it might feel like less work. There are exceptions but typically you cannot take a four-class equivalent even if you have the extra credits.

We recommend bringing pieces that you can mix and match! For example, bringing a go-to knit sweater that you can wear on the airplane but also look cute in a museum (like a knit sweater in a neutral tone) is the best play! It will be colder than you expect in most of Europe so layerable items are key. Items suggested: plain turtle necks, trousers, comfortable shoes to walk around in, toque, knit sweater. Note: limit the amount of athleisure you bring.