If you’re a student at UT Austin, then you’ve probably received at least five emails from various professors, faculty members, and organizations about studying abroad next year. My inbox is overflowing with messages advertising the fabulous programs offered by UT in countries all around the world. However, the fact of the matter is that those emails don’t include the information that is really going to sell me on a program. The emails I receive never address my worries.
As a third-year student at the University of Texas at Austin, I’ve had the opportunity to study abroad twice. My first program was in Oxford, England studying US versus UK education in May-June of 2022. My second study abroad was last summer (2023) from July to August in Santander, Spain studying Spanish Art and Business Spanish. The programs each enriched my life and my educational experience. Nevertheless, I faced (both times!) a lot of the factors that deter students from following through with their programs.
Most applications for Maymesters (four-week-long programs starting in May) and summer programs (six-week-long programs beginning in June or July) are coming up on November 1st. Now is the time to make your move! Studying abroad can truly be as fabulous as the emails make it seem. I know it isn’t easy to make the decision, though.
I’m going to give y’all what I wish all of those emails would’ve given me: I am going to address, directly, some very common reasons students choose not to study abroad.
The first (and most obvious), is financial stress. Studying abroad isn’t cheap. I know I’m stating the obvious, but it really needs to be said. The fliers and emails advertising all of the programs rarely highlight the actual cost of the amazing adventure. On average, at UT Austin, Maymesters are anywhere from $3000-$9000, and summer programs are sometimes even pricier. That price tag is huge, there’s no doubt. The great thing about UT Austin, though, is that Maymesters are included in your Spring Semester’s tuition! What that means is that you won’t have to pay for the class while you’re abroad. Also, if you’re interested in a summer program (or if you need more financial assistance to make your program possible) UT has a great resource for looking for scholarships: Global Assist. This website has a comprehensive list of scholarships students can apply for which directly apply to study abroad opportunities. There are tons of options for scholarships. My best advice is to just submit an application because you never know who will want to help make your dream of studying abroad come true!
Another common hesitation students have in regard to studying abroad is anxiety. There are so many variables and factors impacting the process of studying abroad. For some students, it may also be their first time flying internationally or flying at all! It can be daunting to tackle cultural barriers, fears of the unknown, and awkwardness. Personally, I have struggled with anxiety surrounding studying abroad. Speaking Spanish in Spain was terrifying to me, despite being a Spanish major. I felt so nervous and, honestly, it was very challenging to push past that anxiety. But I felt so proud of myself when I finally ordered dinner (agua con hielo y paella, por favor). I also felt super awkward adjusting to staying with a local family while abroad. Many of UT’s Maymester/summer programs require homestays, which is when a student (or students) stays in the home of a local family in the country of their program. Both of the programs I participated in required homestays. And both times were a little stressful in the beginning. Despite that initial awkwardness and anxiety, I grew to love my host families. I still follow my host mom from Oxford on Instagram! Not knowing what to expect can be scary, but just know that the other students in your cohort are all feeling the same way! Studying abroad together will bond you to your cohort as y’all navigate the new places and experiences in your country of choice. Pushing through my anxiety and facing my fears resulted in making some valuable friendships, while also showing me who I am as a global citizen. I learned so much about myself and I’m so much more confident now that I have overcome my struggles with anxiety about studying abroad. You can do it! If you face your fear, I promise the experience you gain will be priceless (made even more so by your pride earned by conquering your anxieties).
The last barrier I will address (of course, there are more) is academic worries. UT offers a plethora of programs that count as “in-residence” credit or transfer credit. The amount of choices can be overwhelming. However, finding a specific program that you’re excited about through Texas Global can be difficult enough without considering your academic goals and progression. As a quadruple major (Plan II Honors, Women’s and Gender Studies, Spanish, and International Relations and Global Studies), it is a bit easier for me to find classes that work for my degree plans. Nonetheless, I pride myself on being strategic when it comes to academic planning so I still feel qualified to give my advice about working the experience of studying abroad into your degree. Many programs have cross-listings, so while it may be advertised as a History course, it could also count for European Studies. Make sure to take a closer look at cross-listings to find another way to make programs count for you! However, the Maymester and summer programs are especially compelling for students with particularly strict degree plans as they will not derail your plans for the next semester’s classes. If you absolutely cannot find a program that is listed (or cross-listed) as a class that will count towards your degree, then a Maymester or summer program on any topic that interests you could be an option! Choosing a fun-seeming program in a country you’ve always wanted to visit is another great way to participate in studying abroad through UT. So many of the programs are on interesting and unique topics (fashion, journalism, etc) that you are bound to discover something you’d enjoy! Just keep in mind: making study abroad opportunities work for your degree plan is not essential to studying abroad. Be sure to reach out to your academic advisor to learn more about finding the program that is right for you!
The bottom line is: SUBMIT AN APPLICATION! Just go for it! Studying abroad will change your life. You can spend all day looking at those eye-catching emails that make studying abroad look like a dream (which it definitely can be), but until you address why you aren’t studying abroad you will continue to hold yourself back. Step out of your own way and allow yourself to explore the possibilities that come along with going on an international educational adventure. You are more than capable.
Address your concerns, as I have begun to, and know that you aren’t alone. I also felt exactly what you’re feeling and I worried about everything I possibly could, but in the end, I went and I changed in the most beautiful ways. Studying abroad will do the same for you if you let it.