If I hadn’t studied abroad, I would have dropped out of college. Seriously. This is why, to this day, studying abroad remains one of the best decisions I’ve made in my life. So, whether you have no interest in studying abroad or you’re undecided, I hope you’ll consider my reasons for why you should study abroad.
1. You can earn your education while traveling
This is probably the best reason for why you should study abroad. Though studying abroad is certainly different from going on vacation, in many ways it’s actually better. You get to live in a different country and work towards your college degree at the same time. Even if you’re given a heavy course load, you have months to participate in tourist activities and find hidden gems in the city you choose to study in.
Additionally, you will likely be able to travel to other countries around you, and it will be much cheaper than if you were traveling from your home country. During my time studying abroad in the UK, I was able to visit 11 additional countries and others visited even more. Most of these trips took place during our three weeks of Easter break, so I promise you will have time to travel.
2. You’ll make friends from all over the world
I take it back — this may actually be the best reason for why you should study abroad. There will be several other international students studying at your university with you. This means you won’t be alone in learning how to embrace a different culture — and this kind of bonding is really powerful. In addition to becoming friends with local students, the connections you make with other international students while abroad could last for years after returning home. You may even be able to visit each other’s home countries one day.
3. You can learn another language
If you choose to study abroad at a university in a non-English speaking country, you’ll have the opportunity to learn another language. Some universities that offer study abroad programs actually require you to take a language course. This is especially beneficial if everyone around you is speaking that language.
Being immersed in a different language is the best way to learn it, so even if you don’t take a language course, you’re constantly surrounded by others who speak it. If you’re really interested in learning to understand and speak the language of the country you study in, you’ll pay more attention and gradually be able to pick it up over time. Additionally, there are several free language-learning programs today that can help you learn the basics while you’re there.
4. You’ll gain new perspectives
From different education systems to societal trends, studying abroad will give you exposure to new perspectives. These perspectives can be surprising and even challenging to your own, but you may also find them to be refreshing and very beneficial for your personal or spiritual development. This was exactly what I needed to convince me to continue my college education after my freshman year.
Studying abroad in the UK was a breath of fresh air for me because I was able to experience a change in pace and more diversity than I had experienced at my home university. In many ways, I actually felt like I belonged more at the UK university than I did at my US university. For this reason, should you choose to study abroad, I hope you’ll walk into it with an open mind.
5. You’ll gain experience for applications and resumes
The experiences you have while studying abroad will not only be life-changing for you. You can also put it on your resume — and it looks really good. Today, there are more people studying abroad for this very reason, so it may not stand out as much depending on where you’re coming from and what kinds of jobs you’re applying to, but it’s still an experience worth mentioning. For all of the reasons I’ve mentioned above, studying abroad is often recognized as an incredibly beneficial and highly-coveted experience. If you have the opportunity to study abroad, don’t hold back. Let this be the final push that helps you decide to do it.