1.     Shop Around
Some of the best programs can actually turn out to be the cheapest depending on what you’re looking for! Decide on a couple of cities or places you’d like to go and then browse the various study abroad programs available for which will give you “the most bang for your buck;” while one program will be 300 dollars cheaper, it may not include 3 daily meals (and the cost of food abroad is not cheap, my friends).
2.     Know the Why
Why are you going to another country to continue your educational path? If you are looking for international internships, then go abraod with an idea of which companies or agencies you’d like to seek out for more information. If you are looking to fully engage in a culture different to your own, make sure you align yourself with the priorities of getting to see different perspectives of your host country rather than spending a lot of time traveling to other places.
3.     Surround Yourself
Once you get to know your study abroad companions, you will quickly be able to distinguish their “why.” For some, it may be to party around the world and blow off class, to others it is the opportunity to learn another language that brought them to leave home for a semester or a year. While everyone may come for multiple reasons, it is better to find a group of students that are on the same page as you.
4.     BUDGET
It is so easy to get caught up in the possibilities of globe-trotting and doing extravagant things, but your bank account may just disagree with you! I suggest having a handy little book to write down your expenses in order to track where your money is being spent, and more importantly, where you can cut back.
5.     Make a List
Creating a list of the things you wish to see and do while abroad may end up helping you decided what you can pass on doing in order to save to do the more personally important things. If your dream was to always ride a camel, then you might want to pass on the extra trip to Dublin in order to be able to pay the immense amount of money to do just that while in Morocco. Additionally, the cost of museums may add up to the cost of a flight, so choose wisely on what you’d enjoy more!
6.     Prepare Yourself
I think it is a very well-known fact that education in America isn’t always top quality when compared globally, and depending on your college or university, you’ll notice that your new university abroad may become more scholastically demanding. Choose courses that interest you, even if they be a little more work than a different class, because it will motivate you to pay attention in class and will help ensure that you also learn while you’re abroad, not just memorize enough information to pass the mid-term.
7.     Go Alone
Personally, I have loved being able to experience this new country without the attachments of having to think about others. Had I come with a friend, I might have had to pass on many things that they didn’t want to do, or compromised my plans for their desires. Coming alone to study abroad has allowed me to fully embrace all that I love and enjoy them with those with similar taste. Â
Bonus Tips for anyone!
8.     Use the AirBnB App
This app/website is legitimately one of the coolest things I have ever seen! This app allows it’s users to find unique lodging for a cheaper price than hotels, but more personality than hostels as the hosts will cook breakfast for you and provide certain unique experiences to their renters!
9.     Download Hola Chrome Extension
Not sure if this is at all legal, but there’s a Google Extension called Hola that allows you to use a VPN from different countries to allow usage of websites that are restricted to certain places (think; Pandora and Netflix are not available in all countries). Additionally, some countries have different selection varieties to offer their customers; Netflix in Mexico has a wider selection of Disney Movies and some can even be played in English!