There is studying abroad, and there is going abroad. Both experiences are a must for all young adults in my eyes, but they both have their own ups and downs.
It completely depends on what country you are planning on traveling to and for how long, but it is likely that studying abroad is going to cost some extra money. You are, after all, paying for college credit, and we all know how pricy that is just taking courses in our designated campuses. However, when you are contemplating on going or not you really need to keep in mind the experience and extra memories that come with it. The plus side to studying abroad is the fact that you can apply for scholarships. Yes, I know, these are tedious and sometimes you don't get them, but you have nothing to lose by applying for them so why not try?
You will have free time to go off and do your own thing in both of these situations; it's really just a matter of how much free time you want. When you study abroad there's a chance that your college is going through a travel agency. It is nice to have someone set up places to stay and places to go, but sometimes they will book the most expensive hotels, restaurants, and touristic places. Sometimes you will pay one, set price and may never know where all your money was going to. The set price may keep you from spending too much because when you travel alone the shopping, drinks, and meals can add up all too quickly. When you are in charge of your own bookings you can search for the cheapest places and look up more of the local things to do. It is even better when you go abroad and have a friend that is native to the country because then you will really get a taste of the local life. You may not always have something set to do, but not having a plan can be just as, if not more, exciting.
By studying abroad with a student group you will be forced to become friends with everyone on your trip; especially if you come into it not knowing another soul. You'll be the only ones in the area trying to find your way home by using maps when you can connect to stores' wi-fi, and the best thing is you guys can totally bond over those horrible, terrifying experiences. I was one of the youngest students on my first study abroad experience, and I now have several upperclassmen friends that I know I can reach out to for mentoring or help with future projects or just to hangout. I can come back to college in a couple of months knowing several more friendly faces including two professors.
Traveling anywhere in large groups is always more difficult, but imagine traveling in a large group in a foreign country. Other countries have their own customs of dressing, talking, and even walking. No matter how hard you try to fit in all eyes will be on you because it's not normal to walk around a city in large groups. On the bright side, people tend to be nicer to you when you ask for help because they know you are tourists. When you travel alone you'll find it easier to blend in, and to me it is extremely fun to fully immerse yourself and pretend to be a local.
Studying abroad is going to bring you some sort of educational benefit, but the amount of growth and life changing experiences you gain traveling abroad alone is just as rewarding. Both will have lasting effects on any individual whether its a greater appreciation for your home, insight to a future career, falling in love, or just finding out what truly makes you happy. I highly recommend taking the opportunity to do both and see how they, too, can change your life.
