What do you think about a young lady studying abroad for a year?

Tens of thousands of female college students go to other countries to study every year. In most places, you're safe than you are anywhere in the U.S. because the violent crime rates are so much lower in other countries. There is not "so much happening" - are you talking about the girl in Italy who was involved with drugs? She probably didn't kill her roommate, but that was a very unusual case. Believe me, if there was much risk to the students, colleges wouldn't have exchange programs. No one can guarantee your safety anywhere, and a lot depends on your own behavior, but if you don't go wandering around drunk and go off with strange men, Barcelona is one of the safest places you could be.

I'm a 19 year old girl. I plan to study abroad, within the next year, in Australia, Argentina, and Colombia. I really don't know about the relative safety -- that isn't really an issue for me. I won't go to any places with travel warnings, at least not while I'm still in college. If you go with a program organized by an American University, ask the Study Abroad advisors about safety considerations. I know lots of people who have studied abroad in various countries and I don't know anyone who has had any trouble. Of course, I've heard stories, but no first hand accounts and nothing about anyone I know. I think problems with those programs are quite rare.

you will have the time of your life, you learn so much living in a foreign culture and from barcelona you can travel all Europe, i would definitely recommend.