Most of us are familiar with the feeling of opening a particularly disappointing Christmas present. Whether it’s a pair of socks or a lumpy sweater, it’s the same sinking feeling in your stomach as you try to force yourself to smile because it is, after all, Christmas.

But for me this year, that feeling of disappointment did not come in a box – it came in an email from DU, which read, “The following (study abroad) programs will not be offered as DU Partner Programs during the 2012-2013 academic year…”

Of course, the program I had already started my application for was on the list of almost 20 suspended programs. Not only that, but the entire application process had been overhauled, complete with new deadlines, additional essay questions, a new program selection method and an extra assignment for those hoping to study for an academic year. The consolation prize was eight new programs added to the list.

Now, I know most students probably weren’t ambitious enough to complete their applications over winter break, but I’m sure I wasn’t the only one who had started one.

These changes sent a lot of us back to square one and put the pressure on those who hadn’t started yet, moving the deadline up by a month for most programs. I was less than happy with the bureaucracy at DU, to say the least. After meeting with a study abroad advisor, I was able to get some explanation and the changes to the program actually seemed well intentioned.

After all, the point was to make the process simpler for students, not harder.Now a student only has to submit the DU application by the deadline, selecting several programs of interest rather than just one.

The study abroad office will then nominate the student for the program they feel fits them best. Only then does the student have to submit program-specific materials, which are supposedly guaranteed acceptance. Theoretically this sounds great, giving students a better chance of getting into a program that they will enjoy and excel in.

The program modifications also make it possible for the study abroad office to send more students to more places.

I take issue with the fact that DU only informed us of these changes a month before the first applications were due.

If this was something that has been in the works all year and was just decided on, why not warn students that things might change before they got too invested in one program? No doubt they were trying not to cause alarm while things were still up in the air.

But another, seemingly more sensible option would have been to implement the changes for students studying abroad in the 2013-2014 year instead.

I understand that when you devise a new, apparently superior program, you want to execute it as soon as possible. But now students and study abroad staff alike are scrambling to adjust to the new process as deadlines are fast approaching.

While these changes clearly had the students’ best interests at heart, I would say they were poorly timed. We’ll see whether the long-term benefits are worth the hasty adaptation.