Since 1991-92, the number of American students studying abroad has increased by 126 percent, from 71,154 to 160,920 students.

At Penn State, there was a large drop-off after Sept. 11, leading 60 fewer students, or 6.2 percent, to study abroad after the terrorist attacks. But interest has rebounded, leading to an 11.5 percent increase from 2001-02 to 2002-03.

John Keller, director of the Office of Education Abroad (OEA), believes the number of students studying abroad will continue to increase at a steady pace.

"The real growth was in the mid-'90s. Right now there are a lot of things moving against us: the exchange rate in Europe, the weak economy and post-Sept. 11 problems," he said.

The Open Doors report found that almost half of those who study abroad go to Britain, Italy, Spain or France. The report did find, however, that the number of students choosing less-traditional destinations continues to grow.

At Penn State, Keller said 90 percent of study-abroad students travel to Western Europe, Australia or New Zealand.

Adam Veil, OEA promotion and outreach adviser, said his office is seeing an increase in locations where students can study internationally and is looking for new destinations to add.

"OEA is a great resource to go to, and they really helped me get started," said Julie Henninger (junior-finance and art history), who will be studying in Prague next semester.

After Sept. 11, the war in Iraq and other events, some students might worry about their security while abroad.

Keller said there is heightened security in all locations and the OEA stays in touch with the U.S. State Department.

"We will bring them home if necessary. We have protocols in each location, and we keep information on students," Veil said.

Henninger said Sept. 11 didn't affect her decision at all.

"Prague has nothing to do with the specific attacks, but if I was going to an Arabic-speaking country, that would be different," Henninger said.

Veil said students are often motivated to stay abroad longer than one semester. "Students often contact the office in the middle of the semester, and they lay groundwork for staying abroad the whole year."