Studying abroad during college is an experience everyone should reach for and it is one I would not have traded for the world. I learned so much about myself as well as how to function in a culture that was not my own. With that being said there are a few things I wish past students and professors would have mentioned before I left to fly to another country.
The first is that not all study abroad experiences will be the same. If you are going to embark on this journey, try to talk to people who went on the specific program you are considering to make sure it fits your needs. Every country and program will have a different language, culture, apartments or dorms, and expectations. If you cannot plan for the program you are in it will be hard to adjust once you get there.
The second is to know your time options. There are study abroad programs as short as one week and as long as a full semester. My personal experience was six weeks and I know people that have programs half of that. Before signing up look into how long you will be immersed in that culture and reflect on if you can handle that long or short of a time period.
The third is to save extra money in case of emergency, lost wallets, or unexpected expenses. If you go into your experience coming out of a dorm you may not think about having to purchase items like toilet paper, dish soap, or cleaning supplies. Again this will depend on the program, but having a few extra dollars in case something comes up will never be something you regret. I would also recommend taking what the finance sheet for your program says and trying to save about $200 extra than what is on there.
Going abroad is an experience you will never forget. You get to see places you have probably never been while completely class credits and it is a great way to develop student-professor relationships with your program directors. However, if you are not fully prepared your experience will be tarnished by stress and worry. So before your next adventure abroad try to be as prepared as possible.
