Every single college or university in the US talks about how great study abroad opportunities, but only 300,000 US students actually studied abroad last year. So why do some few people take advantage of the opportunities that all colleges harp on?
"I don't have the time"
Academics, clubs, sports, volunteer activities, social life, work... the list goes on of stuff all college students have to manage. How could anyone have time to study abroad? It seems impossible but I am a firm believer that people make time for things they really want. I never thought I would have time to study abroad but I found a program that worked for me. You don't have to go for a whole semester, though its great if you do, but summer programs or spring break programs can be amazing and rewarding as well.
"I won't know anyone and I'll be alone"
While traveling to a foreign country is daunting it doesn't have to be that scary. There are plenty of programs where you go with other students, either from your own school or just from another US school. And even if you do go alone you will meet people and you will not be alone. Remember when you first got to college and you didn't know anyone? Did you make friends pretty fast right? Just have an open mind and a positive attitude. And don't be afraid to start conversations with strangers at your school abroad. Who knows, you might make some friendships that last a lifetime.
"I don't know the language/culture"
While I studied abroad in the UK, not knowing the language or culture is a huge anxiety for a lot of students considering studying abroad. But just think of it as part of the adventure. Almost anywhere in Europe you can find someone that speaks at least a little English to help you out. Plus when studying abroad you are going through your school to set it up and they make sure you will be okay. Honestly, study abroad gives you the opportunity to travel on your own with a safety net looking out for you.
"I won't be able to afford it"
I know this was high on my list of why I could never ever study abroad. But when compared to traveling by yourself, study abroad is actually kinda cheap, usually. Because you are going through your school or another program that typically has agreements with the other university, housing opportunities, and other travel costs you can get decent deals. Also sometimes schools have scholarships or grants for students that want to study abroad. I ended up paying just a little bit more than I would have to take the same amount of credits at my home school. I also took full advantage of the internet, creating a GoFundMe page so that my Facebook friends could send me some money to help pay for it.And surprisingly lots of people did help out, most of them saying that their study abroad trip had changed their life and wanted me to have a similar experience.
Study abroad may not work out for every student, but I recommend every student at least look into it. My study abroad trip changed my view of the world and was honestly one of the best experiences I have had in my entire life. I learned so much about academics, culture, other people, and most of all myself.
