Making the decision to study abroad while in college can be one of the most exhilarating choices you make during your time as an undergraduate. Studying abroad can open you up to a wide variety of different cultures and experiences that you would never get without making the decision to go. The experience can completely alter your outlook on life and the course of your education and future career.
Whether you are a U.S. student looking to study internationally or an international student looking to study in the U.S., there are a number of important things to consider when making the decision to go abroad. Consider where you want to go, what you want to study, and how to make the most of wherever you end up.
Some of the more challenging aspects of studying abroad include figuring out visas and if there are any immigration challenges in the country of your choice. Likewise, determining how you will pay to be abroad for a semester or for your full college experience can be difficult. The best way to start is to face challenges head on by building an understanding of what you’ll need to be the most successful.
Getting Abroad
If you are considering studying abroad, the best thing you can do to prepare is to start asking as many questions as you can. Talk with people who have already studied abroad about what were the best and most challenging parts of the process. Try to narrow down destinations and programs based on positive ratings, cost, and your own interest and educational goals in a given area.
Determine early on if you are up for trying to learn a new language or if you are wanting to focus solely on studies in your major. Likewise make a decision about whether you want to rent your own place or do a long homestay with a local host family. Regardless of where you go, no two countries are the same and you are likely to experience at least a small level of culture shock when settling in.
Once you have the general direction and living situation you want figured out, the next step is to start applying to programs. Working with your university’s study abroad office can be a great way to get organized early and make sure you are filling out paperwork correctly. They can also answer any question that comes up and get all of your various concerns squared away.
Going vs Coming to the U.S.
Depending on where you are going, the laundry list of different requirements can vary. In any application process, it can take a couple of months to get everything sorted out. This is part of the reason why it is so critical to start applying early.
For many students coming to the U.S. to study abroad, for instance, they will likely be required to apply for and obtain a Student F1 Visa. These visas are the easiest for students, and are therefore the most common visa international students use to study in the States. Students often have to go through a whole interview process and the U.S. embassy in their home country prior to getting accepted for U.S. studies.
No matter where you study or for how long you’re away, it is important to remember that you are living in a foreign country. Your citizenship may buy you a lot in your home country, but you will not be afforded some of the same rights in a foreign country. For example, you will not be able to vote in local elections abroad. The biggest factor for most internationals though, is following local laws. Getting into trouble could lead to a revoking of a visa, deportation, or worse.
Affording to Study Abroad
Saving or earning the money to study abroad is typically one of the biggest limiting factors for most students. It often costs more than an average semester’s tuition. And if you are looking to do your entire college experience internationally, there is usually a certain need to work and make money to pay for school and other basic expenses such as rent and groceries.
There are plenty of ways to help save money in college. Perhaps the most valuable is to create a realistic budget and do your best to stick to it. This can mean limiting the number of times per week you go out or encourage you to buy used textbooks. But if you are able to save money to enjoy your time abroad, it is completely worth it.
If you do need to pick up a job for a longer stint abroad, there are certainly ways to make that happen. A lot of the time where and how much you can work while abroad is dependent upon the country you are trying to work in and your country of origin. There are certainly some (like Australia or the U.K.) that are much easier and require far less paperwork than others.
Studying abroad can be one of the best experiences of your life and may even alter your life view in a good way. If you are considering studying abroad for any amount of time, it is important to begin the process early by deciding where you want to go, figuring out how you will afford it, and starting the paperwork. Whether you are leaving the U.S. for a time or going there to study, you are bound to learn far more than you ever anticipated. Have fun!
