CHESTER, Pa. (CBS.MW) – Heading to Europe for a semester or two may seem an ideal opportunity for college students to get away for fun and frolic. But the chance to party overseas isn't a big motivator for those who decide to study abroad.

Just 4 percent of students surveyed by StudyAbroad.com cited 'the legal drinking age' as criteria for choosing a destination, while just 2 percent mentioned 'an enjoyable trip – from water skiing to rock climbing' as a goal. And only 1 percent said the opportunity to be away from their college campuses was a reason for wanting to study abroad. 'Students aren't attracted to study abroad programs because they want to drink or hit the beach. Rather, they view these programs as a chance to become fully immersed in another culture and truly expand the scope of their education,' said Mark Shay, chief executive of Educational Directories Unlimited Inc., the producer of StudyAbroad.com.

The top reason given for studying abroad? Eight–two percent said 'sightseeing, meeting new people, tasting foreign cuisines and learning or polishing a foreign language' were the first things that came to mind when making plans. Only 16 percent cited 'living what I learn in college textbooks.'

'It's clear that students are also not going abroad to improve or enhance a transcript or college record. Instead of simply doing a textbook–like tour of a country, stopping only at places they've read about, they want to become truly a part of the place they're visiting – – living, eating and speaking like the locals and gaining a once–in–alifetime experience. This is what is driving the demand for study abroad programs today,' Shay said.

Can't live without it
What's your most indispensable piece of personal technology? If you guessed the cell phone, which seems to be glued to everyone's ear these days, you're wrong.

The desktop PC is the gear we depend on the most these days, according to the Voca Group. The strategic marketing firm said an online survey of 1,500 U.S. consumers found 70 percent rated their PC as the personal technology device they depend upon the most.

The cell phone ranked second overall, with 28 percent calling it the device they most depend upon.

Consumers were asked to choose between the cell phone, personal organizer, home PC or paging device. The home PC ranked highest across every age, gender and income category except among 18– and 19–year–old females, who instead put the cell phone at the top.

Other groups who had a higher than average dependence on cell phones were females 18 to 39, at 42 percent, and individuals with household income of $100,000 to $200,000 at 38 percent.

Competition dials up savings
U.S. consumers could save up to $9.24 billion a year through lower phone bills if vigorous local phone–service competition was allowed to flourish in all 50 states, according to a report from the Competitive Telecommunications Association.

Savings for individual consumers would vary depending on their state of residence and choice of phone service plan, the association said. Overall savings per line would average about $7.50 per month – or $90 a year – for local service.

'In states where regulatory decisions have led to strong competition, consumers are benefiting from substantially lower phone bills and more responsive rate plans . . . as both new entrants and incumbents cut retail rates in response to competition,' said H. Russell Frisby Jr., president of the association, which is made up of companies that would benefit if competition were opened.

The savings analysis is derived from projections published by the Telecommunications Research and Action Center in 2001–2002. That research calculated an expected range of annual savings for nine states where competitors have entered local telephone markets. Savings in the nine states ranged from $75.40 per line in California to $147.84 in New Hampshire.

Steve Kerch is the real estate editor of CBS.MarketWatch.com in Chicago.