Leaving home can be scary. Nevertheless, every year, over 300,000 American students pack their bags and get on a plane to study abroad (“Why Study Abroad?”). The appeal of studying abroad can seem apparent at first—a “free” vacation, the opportunity to visit new places and try new activities, and an exciting venture from the usual dullness of one’s hometown. However, studying abroad can provide students with countless benefits that extend beyond pure enjoyment, such as opening students’ minds, improving their language skills, and allowing them to make connections with others. At the same time, traveling abroad can be expensive and disorienting, even making it difficult to return home. In the next few paragraphs, I hope to give you an accurate description of the various pros and cons of college abroad. On one hand, studying in a foreign country can open one’s mind, better fluency in another language, and foster the formation of diverse friendships. When a student travels abroad, studies show that their open mindedness and growth mindset flourish. In fact, one article by The Atlantic found that creative professionals who had spent significant time abroad often developed more original ideas because exposure to different cultures introduced them to unfamiliar perspectives and trends. These benefits of travel abroad apply to every profession, whether it be fashion designers or STEM majors. Additionally, college abroad can improve one’s fluency in a non-native language. One of the most effective ways to learn a language faster and more comprehensively is through complete cultural and linguistic immersion. In other words, language learning can be greatly accelerated through consuming content and doing daily activities in said language. Lastly, college abroad allows students to connect with unfamiliar people, whether it be citizens of a different country or members of the same college who are also traveling abroad. Oftentimes, college students going abroad will travel in a cohort alongside other students, and boarding services may also be conjoined among students. This creates close friendships among students that will last beyond their time abroad. Moreover, the ability to live in another country and immerse oneself in a different culture naturally lends itself to the forging of diverse friendships—friendships that would have never been possible without college abroad. On the other hand, studying in another country can be extremely costly and disorienting, with reintegration sometimes posing a problem. According to (https://www. gooverseas.com/blog/cost-to-studyabroad), the costs of programs for studying abroad usually start at about $34,900, although this number can change depending on the time spent abroad and the number of amenities provided to the student (Palmer). Regardless, studying abroad is a considerably expensive decision to make, excluding many mid- and low-income students from taking advantage of these opportunities. For many, the intangible benefits of studying abroad are simply not worth the hefty paycheck. Besides the steep cost, several students also experience culture shock once they arrive in a foreign country. Culture shock refers to the surprise and confusion that one feels at the different behaviors and practices of different behaviors and practices of members of another culture. For example, in Spain, dinner is typically eaten at around ten or eleven in the night, which can be a drastic change for many Americans! Finally, once a student’s time abroad comes to an end, they may find it challenging to return home and adapt to their normal way of life again. If a student spends a prolonged period of time in another country, they may view their time in the U.S. as unfamiliar, making their return home just as demanding as their departure. Overall, the financial burden, cultural adjustment, and hardships of reintegration can make college abroad an unattractive option for many students. Traveling to a foreign nation can be both rewarding and taxing. Ultimately, the decision of whether or not to study abroad is left up to the individual student who must reflect on their desires and wishes for their college experience. Careful consideration of the opportunities and challenges of college abroad can help students make a choice that best aligns with their goals. In the end, studying abroad is not simply about traveling to another country— it is about discovering how much one can grow after stepping outside of their comfort zone and exploring a new sphere.
College Abroad
