There are three categories of juniors: the Junior Advisors (JAs), who spend their year on campus living with the freshmen of their entry; those who go abroad for either one or two semesters; and those who fall into neither of the two categories, the "just another junior"s. If you fall into that last category, you hear the same questions over and over again: "why did you not go abroad? It was the best semester of my time here." "Do you regret it?" "Don't you feel like you're missing out?" No, I don't, and here is why.
As far as practical reasons go, I did not want to go abroad, because I am a double major in Biology and Classics, and have a concentration in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (BIMO). Add to that the fact that I am a premedical student. Williams is the best place to be to fulfill my requirements for my majors and premed track. The quality of instruction here for these disciplines is unparalleled. Further, I was able to take the BIMO seminar as a junior rather than a senior. I was even able to take the MCAT exam during the academic year instead of the summer. None of this would have been possible if I had gone abroad.
I missed out on travel. But I can do that during my breaks, and without the study part of going abroad. I have my whole life to explore the world, and one semester is not nearly long enough to see all of the places I want to go. I will get to my dream destinations eventually, there is no need to rush to them now.
Of course, I occasionally get fear of missing out (FOMO) when my friends post their stunning photographs from their travels. Realistically, however, I would not be traveling with them to the same places at the same time. I would be on my own journey. Being on campus has allowed me to see the largest proportion of my friends, both from my own year and from all of the others. I miss my friends who are abroad, but we will reunite again. And where? On campus.
Finally, I went to Williams to go to Williams, not abroad. We only have eight semesters of college. I want to get the most of my time here here.
There is no right or wrong when choosing your junior year path. Mine just happened to lead to Williams, not abroad.
