The best answer probably would sound something like this –

Study abroad at the time that is best for you in terms of meeting your academic and career goals.  Go overseas during the time that you will be missing the least on your home campus. Many colleges recommend that seniors prepare a senior thesis. At Princeton, students must do a senior thesis and junior independent work, so the timing of your study abroad experience is a little more strategic.

Lots of students are choosing to study abroad during their sophomore year.

• They complete their general education requirements overseas or before they leave.

• They’ll be ready for the major course in junior and senior year.

I’ve even know students to combine academic years – doing their international exchange during spring of freshman year and fall of sophomore year, or spring of sophomore year and fall of junior year, or spring of junior year and fall of senior year.  Some students combine summer study abroad with the following fall semester or spring study abroad with the following summer semester.  There are seemingly infinite combinations.

Looking back on study abroad timing options, I think the best possible option for you, if you know you want to go abroad for a year, and if you don’t mind deferring college entrance, is for you to take a gap year. Everyone I know who has done that has really gotten great benefit out of it.

• You apply for and get admitted to college.

• You defer going to college for a year while you study abroad, intern abroad, work abroad, or intern abroad.

• You don’t have to worry about academic requirements.

• When you return to the states, you start college with a cohort of students that you remain with for four years.

• You don’t have to interrupt your undergraduate education at all.  

• You return to your studies with newfound energy, maturity, independence, and enthusiasm.  It’s a win-win situation.

Now that you have an idea about when you should study abroad, let's look at that all-time favorite - summer study abroad.