Hey I posted here earlier regarding going abroad. So I've decided that I've definitely want to go. I'm still a little confused regarding how to pick a good place to head to. Is there a difference between fall and spring terms? I also wish I had a resource to find out more about the local culture of the university and the weather so I have a better way to finding the place that is right for me. Any ideas?

ummm.... you need more of a game PLAN than this. You can try looking up schools on the internet and see if they have courses in the field you are looking to go into. Now Focus.

"Live Free or Die"

somewhere thats different than what you are familiar with is probably the best place to go to. somewhere you dont speak the language and dont understand the culture but you have interest in finding out more. Go to your school study abroad office. They prolly can help you more.

Good Luck

Fall and Spring programs really depends on the university you're going to. If you're on the quarter system and go on the fall program, you're only missing fall quarter at your school. If you go on spring program, you'll miss both winter and spring quarter. You need to check with your university.

All the information you're asking will be provided to you. They should give you a brief, very brief, package of information. Getting more information is entirely up to you, and with the internet, incredibly easy.

As far as the best program or best university, I don't think it exists. Each experience is different for each student. Some people have a blast at once school in a particular area, some hate the school and the area. Who ever gives yo information will obviously say "this is our popular school," but I'd try to hit up the people who actually went to that program first. Get their input. Any school you consider going to, find previous students to talk to if getting that information is that big of a deal to you.

"I am American mentally with Japanese tendencies." - Lupe Fiasco

"Movies are fake." - Richard Walter, Professor and Screenwriting Faculty Chairman, UCLA

"No one can make you feel inferior without your consent." - Eleanor Roosevelt

As others have mentioned, there is no best place. Each place and experience is different, but for sure, the more you put into it, the more you will get out of it.

Your university should have a resource center for studying abroad; you are not the first person to do this. As to weather, any tourist guidebook will explain what you should expect. I'm guessing your university's "study abroad" program will have a "What to Expect" document (online, deadtrees, etc.) for the various destinations.

With the Internet, it should not be difficult for you to find additional carefully written resources by people who have done this before. As a matter of fact, there are probably hundreds of people blogging about their "semester abroad" experience right now.