The United States of America is one of the most interesting places in the world and a popular destination for many British tourists but after studying here for an extended period of time, I can tell you it is a very different (but brilliant) experience. It can be daunting but a very worthwhile. Having loved my time studying at Southern Mississippi so far, here are my top 10 reasons to study abroad in the US.
1) School Spirit
Just as the Beach Boys sung, you’ve got to ‘be true to your school’ and this is something American college students do not take lightly. This school spirit is particularly noticeable at athletic events whether it’s a football, baseball, basketball or ice hockey game; the crowd will be full of students in their colours chanting for their team’s victory. It’s terribly easy to get caught up in and makes you feel like part of a bigger community, and is just generally great fun to be a part of.
2) Diversity
America is a total melting pot and you’ll be sure to find all sorts of interesting people who will share their views and culture with you. Colleges in particular will be home to people from all over the States as well as the world who are seeking an American education, so you’ll be sure to meet and make friends with a wide variety of people.
3) Chance to Travel
America has it all, the island paradise of Hawaii, skiing luxury in places like Aspen and Vail, the metropolitan marvels of NYC, and LA; choosing to study here for the year gives you a great opportunity to explore and see those places you’ve always wanted to. It also means you’ll probably discover some amazing locations the average tourist couldn’t dream of as you’ll have local connections and recommendations.
4) New Way to Learn
The US school system is fairly different to the UK, a lot of the basics are similar but you’ll find you have more assignments and tests here which will help build lots of important time management skills. There is also more scope to try something new and take classes that approach things from an American perspective and learn a lot you would not have had a chance to back home.
5) Employability
This is one you’ll have no doubt heard if you’ve been considering studying abroad and attended any talks, but it’s true – it definitely gives your CV an edge that it otherwise would not have had. We live in an increasingly international and connected world, the experience of just living, let alone studying, in a foreign super power such as the US will make you much more employable.
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6) Being British in America
It’s like being famous, the a
ccent is almost alw
ays an immediate hit and you’ll be bombarded with questions on what it’s like being from the UK.
7) Food
There’s a lot of it for sure and although fast food is even more abundant than in the UK, when you find those local places that serve real American food it is well worth it. Much of classic American food is hearty, true comfort food made with love and it is delicious. The diversity of America also means you’ll have the opportunity to try a huge variety of cuisines.
8) The People
They’re lovely. Although I have been told that what I’ve experienced so far is a particularly Southern thing (their famed Southern hospitality) and that as you travel North things change a bit, generally Americans are pretty outgoing and happy to help. Their passion for their country is catching and at the very least it’s hugely interesting to meet people who are so similar yet so different from those you know.
9) Different Perspective
Wherever you go in the world one of the best things is to learn from the people you meet, many of the things Americans consider perfectly normal are alien to us and vice versa. Again this changes depending on where in the USA you travel to, for example people here are totally shocked when I tell them I ride the train a lot at home, many of them have never been on one, and even more have never left the U.S. Another big difference is of course the gun laws here, people find the fact that acquiring a gun in the UK is near-impossible to be something they just can’t relate to, it’s extremely interesting to talk to those with such a different view of the world.
10) Campus Life
It’s easy to get very involved on campus in the US, from student government and Homecoming court to the multitude of sports clubs and honour societies becoming a part of the student community is great fun and a good way to learn more about the place you’re studying at. Greek Life is also a big part of many universities and despite the sometimes gruelling recruitment process it is an amazing way to make life-long friends and get active on campus.
Hopefully these reasons have helped convince you that choosing to study abroad in the USA is an excellent choice and definitely something to consider. I for one am so glad I made the decision to do it.
Image Credits: jkelleyphoto.com, foleyjudell.com, usnews.com, Matt Bush