Shipping the students to study abroad seems to be the latest trend in the nation's education sector. According to the Bloomberg report, universities are pushing the first-year students to opt for study-abroad programmes to enrol larger classes and hence more tuition coffers.

New York University and Northeastern University, Boston whose tuition fees exceed $50,000 per year are reportedly making some freshmen spend one or two semesters abroad, even before they set foot on the campus of their choice.

Apparently, these universities then fill the beds of these students. Some students may welcome the trend, but others are concerned about not getting a chance to start their academic journey in the colleges and campuses of their choice.

Many students from modest backgrounds have monetary concerns. Over and above the hefty tuition fee, they end up paying the travel charges too. Sometimes, these acceptances come with pre-conditions, so it's unlikely that students accept the study-abroad options without giving a lot of time to think it over said Bev Taylor, a New York-based college admission consultant to Bloomberg.

Fred Schwarzbach, NYU's Liberal Studies Program's dean confirmed that the program 'makes some freshmen admissions contingent on spending the first year abroad to maximize campus use.' He also added that student's interests and preferences are taken into account before the university pair applicants with the site they want.

But, a freshman accepted by NYU for the same program said to Bloomberg that she has 'no idea' about why they picked her for the study-abroad option in Paris. She said she doesn't know French and is trying to figure out what she has in common with the other people in the program.

Apparently, even Northeastern requires students accepted for spring admission to study abroad during the fall semester. And the students end up paying more than what the university charges its Boston students. Also, some of its partner universities do not provide dining facilities and the extra charges student pay are exclusive of meals. One more downside to such abroad programs is that students lose out on federal aid, as programs aren't run by the home university nor taught by its faculty.

"The losers are the parents who pay for it and the financial-aid system," said Barmak Nassirian, a former associate executive director of the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers, reports Bloomberg.

In a tight economy, with job market down and student debt rate soaring, the study abroad programs do not look feasible. But yet students are attracted towards such programs for the exposure they promise and parents continue to encourage their children to opt for study-abroad option.