Studying abroad can be one of the most fulfilling and enlightening experiences — trust me, I’m preparing to go a third time! While studying abroad, you have the opportunity to completely immerse yourself in a new culture, mindset and way of life — all while leaving your own past at the door. You learn so much about yourself when in a new environment due to being in such a cultural reset, and the skills you gain are usable in all aspects of life afterwards. In my experience, studying abroad has given me a perspective on life that I did not have previously; that living is so much more than participating in individual social norms, and that home can truly be anywhere if you’re comfortable enough with yourself.
When choosing to study abroad, it’s important to know exactly what you want out of it. Are you traveling to see a specific place? To study a certain topic? Perhaps even to explore a particular culture or social scene, or to take advantage of natural attractions?
All of these reasons will influence your end destination, courseload and overall experience, so it’s important to know yourself and consider what the best option is for you!
Some programs focus on the destination and exploring it, while others focus on specific majors or themes through which course content is distributed. The ideal scenario is to combine all of these things together, so as to place you in a destination that is both appealing as far as its geography and culture, and somewhere you can study your passions and follow your heart.
More often than not, you will have to work with your home school in order to place you in the program that’s best for you. It’s also important to note that there are different kinds of ways to go abroad, and depending on your school, they may offer a variety of options that can seem overwhelming.
Exchange programs are made when your home school partners with a school in your desired destination, and sends a student of their own in your place, allowing you both to literally exchange campuses. In this situation, your home school will help manage tuition costs, but other costs such as meals, transportation and rooming accommodations are your responsibility.
Affiliate programs occur when your home school partners with a larger organization that specializes in studying abroad, and usually has their own housing and classroom set up in specific destinations. Usually, this means you will have to apply through both the organization and your home school, but affiliate organizations typically have package deals through which you can pay at once for tuition, housing, meals, transportation and other costs. Some of my favorite programs that I would recommend looking into are CIEE, CEA and AIFS. Another helpful website to consider is ISEP, which specifically focuses on making studying abroad affordable, manageable and accessible to those struggling to make it work.
Finally, it’s worth considering your options of completing an internship abroad! Many home schools and affiliate programs alike offer internships to students looking for an immersive and beneficial experience, and it can be a great way to expand your career options and make connections with people you never expected to meet!
All in all, studying abroad is an extremely personal experience with a lot of fine print in the details, but it’s one that will change your life. While it can be daunting for some to even think about breaking away from their home and lifestyle, the act of destroying that routine opens up countless opportunities for you to grow, pursue new hobbies and learn things about yourself you never would have otherwise. I can also say that I fell considerably more in love with my major and studies after taking courses abroad, all because the change in scenery allowed me to separate myself from the classroom I was used to. I would not be the person or student I am today without my experiences abroad, and I encourage anyone considering to go for it. Considering the challenges of college, why not make the experience into a transformative vacation?