I had the incredible privilege to study in Florence, Italy. I spent five months traveling Europe, eating gelato, living in an apartment with frescoed ceilings and butchering the Italian language. Many college students who study abroad claim it was the best experience of their lives. However, studying abroad is not for everyone.
Studying abroad isn’t for you if…
1. You have an extreme case of FOMO.
You will be making new memories, and so will your friends back at home. Without you. Whether it's weekend trips, the group chat you’ll be removed from or school events, the truth is you will miss it all. Fear of missing out will ruin study abroad for you.
2. You are scared of new experiences.
No matter how many hours you spend preparing, there will come a point where everything goes completely wrong. If you have a hard time adapting, you will have a hard time every single day abroad.
3.You hate being alone.
As a study abroad student, you will spend many hours by yourself. Friends will want to go see different attractions than you, and you'll spend solo time exploring. Being comfortable wandering around lost, by yourself, is a necessary quality.
4. You are dependent on someone at home.
Whether you left a significant other at home, a loyal group of homies or you just need your mom, study abroad makes keeping in touch extremely hard. Unless you buy data, you will be dependent on some obscure cafe's WiFi to talk to loved ones. Your relationships will also suffer the hit of the time difference.
5. You have a need to win people over.
The second you open your mouth and speak English to your friend in line, most people will not like you. You must be comfortable with the fact that many people around the world do not like Americans, and usually it’s for a good reason.
6. You like the way you are.
It is impossible to travel and remain the same. Your experience abroad will change you for better or for worse, often both at the same time. You will come back with entirely new traits to surprise your friends and family with.
7. You spook easy.
I guarantee you that a someone will scare you while you are out there. It may be a man following you at night, a woman trying to steal your bag on the train or people shoving selfie-sticks in your face. Someone will recognize you as a tourist and try to capitalize on it.
8. All your friends at home are just like you.
Study abroad will introduce you to college students from all over the U.S. I met kids from Kansas, New Jersey, Washington, Maine, Texas, etc. No one will be just like you. You will make no friends if you wait around for someone with similar interests.
Studying abroad changed my life immensely, but consider these eight things before you buy a backpack and a plane ticket!
