Why Should I Study Abroad?

You’ll laugh, you’ll learn, and you’ll live life to a degree you wouldn’t have been able to before. It really is a rollercoaster. The disadvantages of studying abroad shouldn’t be ignored. It’s not all rainbows and sunshine. But the challenges you’ll face will help you grow. 

If you’re tempted by the idea busting out of your routine and going on an adventure, you’ve landed in the right place. We hope it isn’t too difficult to convince you to see why study abroad is important. But just in case you need a little nudge, here are 13 reasons why you absolutely must study abroad. 

Why is studying abroad important?

Why is studying abroad important? It introduces you to a whole new side of yourself.

Why is study abroad important? There are many reasons why study abroad is important. Personal benefits of studying abroad are interconnected with global benefits. When you study abroad, you're not only treating yourself to an epic sojourn, you’re doing the world a solid. So if people ask you “why are you studying abroad?” just tell them it’s for the greater good.  

1. Global awareness

You can only learn so much about another culture by watching National Geographic documentaries. If you really want to thrive in life, learning how to view things from another’s perspective is imperative. In case you haven’t noticed, we’re living in a globalized world. We share cultural icons with people in Japan, we trade with people in Bangladesh, and we face political challenges across continents. 

2. Meaningful connection 

You’ll learn a lot about another culture by living in abroad, and you have the chance to make lifelong connections and meaningful relationships. Sharing stories and ideas with people from a different culture will help you understand their values, and perhaps help you sort out your own.

3. Societal harmony 

When you study abroad, you come home with a wealth of knowledge. Not just from the classes you took, but the perspective you’ve gained. You’ll learn to empathize with people who have different beliefs from you because you won’t see their innate values as a threat. How cool would it be if we could live in a world where people don’t see difference as a personal assault? 

The academic benefits of studying abroad

Studying in foreign country can have HUGE academic impacts.

Although it may feel like it at times, a semester abroad isn’t just a globetrotter’s excuse to get the hell outta Dodge. The academic benefits of studying abroad are plentiful! It is called “study” abroad, after all.  

4. Focus on your degree 

When you’re looking at programs abroad, you can be super picky when making decisions on where to go and what to study. You get to fully immerse yourself in a program that focuses solely on your area of study. Interested in Marine Biology? Dive deeper into your degree with a program in Costa Rica, one of the most biologically intense places in the world. Wanna become a bilingual badass? Check out language-specific programs, like CIEE’s Summer Language and Culture in Palma de Mallorca. If STEM is your calling, check out Athena Study Abroad’s program in Aberdeen, Scotland. The University of Aberdeen is STEM certified, making it ideal for students who want to get into science and tech. 

5. Gain perspective 

Studying abroad also offers the unique opportunity to learn what you know but from a totally different perspective. Different cultures have different ways of interacting with the world, and studying in a foreign university will give you another perspective of your coursework. In general, mixing it up with different profs is a good idea for a well-rounded education. So why not study abroad in England for the chance to find your very own Professor Lupin? Pretty sure he’ll have multiple...perspectives.

6. GRADUATE! 

A study done at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln revealed that study abroad participants graduate at higher rates than their non-abroad peers, with the likelihood of graduating in five years increasing by 64 percent. It’s true; some of the academic benefits of studying abroad actually tie to whether or not you make it out of college. Whoa. Mind. Blown. 

The career benefits of studying abroad

We could talk for days about the effects of studying abroad on your career choices.

If you want to land your dream job, you better study abroad. The career benefits of studying abroad are endless! It makes your resume look classy AF, gives you a chance to intern abroad, and can boost your paycheck down the road. You’ll be stupidly marketable, so take the opportunity to extend your academic experience into the professional world.

7. Resume magic 

When an employer looks at your resume and sees that you have studied abroad, they’ll be intrigued. It adds a pop that catches their eye. Once you get the interview (because we know you will, you industrious traveler), you can use your experiences to answer pretty much any question they throw at you. You’re a risk-taker, a problem solver, and a cross-cultural connoisseur. If that doesn’t help you make up your mind, we’ll just toss this out: 90% of study abroad alumni found their first job within six months of graduating (in a study done by IES Abroad).

8. Interning your way to the top 

Interning during your study abroad will give you real-life, professional experience. Is there a company abroad you’re particularly interested in? Or somewhere your ideal industry is well-known for? Use your time abroad to explore. Send them an email, or drop by (but not in a creepy way) and see if you can make any connections. Talk to your study abroad advisors on site, or at your school, and figure out how to make it happen. You never know who you might meet while networking abroad.  

9. Why study abroad? To get paid

Is this really surprising? If studying abroad makes you a risking-ting, problem-solving, experience seeking, worldly baller, it makes sense that employers are more likely to offer you a higher salary if you’ve studied abroad. According to a study done by IES Abroad, the internationally inclined students earned, on average, $7,000 more in starting salaries than the general population of recent US grads. Need more proof? Hosteworld’s study found that 41 percent of employers would offer higher salaries to students who had studied abroad. Living abroad shows that you’re adaptable, and that’s a skill employer absolutely luuuurve. 

10. Talk _______ to me  

Why not use your time abroad to become bilingual? They say immersion is the best way to learn a language. If you want to get hired quick, learn a second language. Being able to speak multiple languages is pretty much a superpower these days, so it shouldn’t be hard. There’s a constant need for bilingual workers; a study released in 2017 shows that demand has doubled in the past five years. Seeing as the world is becoming more and more interconnected, it’s safe to say that it’s only going to go up. 

The personal benefits of studying abroad

11. Challenge yourself (emotionally and academically) 

Live in another country where they don’t speak the language and simultaneously balance school, adventure, and social life?? CHALLENGE ACCEPTED. Who doesn’t love a little challenge? The personal benefits of studying abroad really are whatever you choose to make them. Want to learn a new language? Study it. Want to do something scary? Go skydiving. Whatever path you choose, you will be challenged. But challenge = growth, which is arguably the best single word answer to “why study abroad” you can get. 

12. Master the art of communication 

Have you ever tried haggling with a street vendor in Istanbul? Or tried to explain to a tuk-tuk driver in Thailand where you need to go? If you have, you know how nuanced (and at times infuriating) cross-cultural communication can be. Language barrier or not, it can be a hassle. In an increasingly interconnected world, the importance of understanding totally different cultures is skyrocketing. 

13. All the skills 

We’re thinking beyond the obvious academic benefits of studying abroad. You’ll have a chance to hone in on those plushy soft skills that are equally important! According to a study funded by the US Department of Education International Research Studies Office, students who study abroad show higher levels of abstract reasoning, higher order thinking, integrative learning, and social development. That’s a fancy science way of saying it’s gonna expand your mind, bro. You’ll also learn to be patient, because trying to order food in another language takes a looooot of that. You’ll learn self-discipline, because choosing to finish your homework over hitting up a Slovakian nightclub will push you to your limit.

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Are there any disadvantages of studying abroad?

What’s that? You have a few arguments against studying abroad?

There are a lot of great reasons to study abroad, but what about reasons NOT to study abroad…? If you couldn’t tell already, we’re pretty firmly in the “You should go” boat. But for those on the fence, it’s still important to acknowledge the potential study abroad drawbacks, challenges, and road bumps.

Homesickness 

One of the strongest arguments against studying abroad is the potential for severe homesickness. Why study abroad when all your friends and family are home? FOMO is real, and you need to consider how your time abroad will affect your emotional well-being. Luckily, there are dozens of helpful ways of dealing with homesickness while abroad. 

That cash, tho 

You might see why study abroad is important, but are afraid that it isn’t going to pan out for you because, well, it can be expensive. The cost can be one of the major downsides of studying abroad. You’re a college student, after all, and money doesn’t grow on trees! It can be a big financial commitment to study abroad, which is a totally understandable deterrent for some folks. The plane tickets can be pricey, your housing setup can set you back, and paying for food/travel can be a heavy weight. But never fear! Ways to fund your study abroad are here! From grants to loans to scholarships, there are options to help you financially fund your freakin’ adventure. 

Something to think about—You can also be strategic about where you decide to go. Some places are waaaay more affordable than living in the US. Check out the average costs of studying abroad around the world.

Culture shock 

Culture shock breaks you down and builds you up. It’s disorienting and scary, but equally thrilling. Some will tell you that it’s one of the disadvantages of studying abroad. But, we’ll let you in on a little secret: it’s actually amazing. It teaches you how to find your rock, your anchor, something that will calm and center you next time you’re feeling overwhelmed. It gives you the tools to master your zen buddha mind. You just have to keep in mind that you will experience lows, and you have to prepare yourself for that. Make sure you have a good toolkit for coping with emotional distress. We don’t want you to get lost in the upside-down of culture shock! The curve goes back up, so hold onto your butts. 

Logistics for days

Figuring out your passport application (and timeline), booking your flights, lifting your luggage to try to perfectly maximize your weight allotment. Figuring out the logistics of travel can be a ton of work, and there’s always the scary possibility that you missed a detail. But don’t worry, that’s actually another one of the reasons to study abroad as a novice traveler: You’ll have *tons* of support every step of the way—including checks and balances (and double checks and balances) to ensure every i is dotted and every T is crossed.

Should students study abroad? Heck yes!

Adventure is out there. Go get it!

If it isn’t obvious from this article, we think you should 110% definitely study abroad, like, now. Sure, there are a few pesky disadvantages of studying abroad, but the benefits outweigh them—by a lot. It’s an adventure of a lifetime that has the power to make meaningful connections, expand your worldview, and get a job that makes dat cash money, dough. It almost seems too good to be true. 

So ask yourself: “Why do I want to study abroad?” Without a clear answer to this question, the potential growth and outcomes might run amiss.

The personal benefits of studying abroad will not only change your life, but have the potential to create a better world! Culture sharing is a magical thing, and we’ll all be better off with Are we reaching? Maybe. But you should be reaching, too. Shoot for the stars, and follow your dreams. An adventure is out there. 

What are you waiting for? Just do it.