What's One Thing You Wish You Did in College?

During my time working at five different colleges and universities across the country, I found myself being asked the same question by different students, no matter which campus. "What is one thing you wish you did in college, that you did not get to do?". While some campus-based professionals might have a lot of answers, or struggle to come up with an answer, my answer was always the same. I would always respond to that question with "I wish I had studied aboard."

While I understand that studying abroad is a luxury that some students cannot afford to do for a variety of reasons, I was not able to study aboard for one of those reasons, it was always something I encourage students to investigate if they had not already done so. Below you will find a few reasons why studying aboard might be the experience of a lifetime. 

Five Reasons to Study Aboard

1. Immersive Experience

   • Living and studying abroad is different from simply vacationing in that place. When you live and study abroad you are part of the community for an extended period. You wake up there on a continual basis, rather than just for a few days before you fly back home or travel to a new location. When you are part of the community you are given a real opportunity to explore the city/country, meet and develop relationships with locals, and have a lasting impact where you are living. 

2. Learn A New Language

   • One of the best ways to learn a new language can be by living it. While you can always learn a new language by studying it in a classroom or at home; surrounding yourself where the language is used daily and by native speakers can really expedite the learning experience. 

3. Challenge Yourself

   • Personally – Living abroad will allow you to develop self-reliance and independence that will benefit you every day of the rest of your life. Additionally, it will challenge you to learn more about yourself, and the person you want to become. 

   • Educationally – By living in a different country, you are challenging everything you both know and were told growing up. Living aboard will allow you to become a globally minded person while exposing you to new teaching and learning styles through your coursework.  

4. Develop Relationships

   • When you are aboard you will be given the chance to meet new people and cultivate lifelong relationships with those where you both are studying and living. 

5. It's Fun

   • When else in your life are you going to have the opportunity to study aboard? Go For It! 

If you want to learn more about studying abroad, I encourage you to contact your campus's study abroad office or your academic advisor.