10 Reasons Studying Abroad is Worth It

It is time to change the way that you see the world. Why not create your own adventure? Make new friends. Understand cultures that you have never even heard of before. See the world in a different light. When you study abroad, everything changes.

I studied abroad in 2008 on an intensive Spanish Study Abroad program AND it was my first trip out of the US. Studying abroad is a true rite of passage and one that nobody should miss. Are you finally ready to take the plunge?

Here are ten reasons why studying abroad is SO worth it!

10. You will make lifelong friends.

It is high time that you add more diversity to your social group! Meet classmates from all over the world and start mingling with the locals. Nothing helps you understand the world better than getting an up close and personal view of cultures from around the globe.

Put yourself out there to make meaningful connections and be sure to keep in touch after you go.

9. Traveling is easy!

When you go study abroad in France, you can easily hop on a train to Germany or get a cheap flight to Spain. A whole new part of the world will suddenly be in your reach, making it easy and inexpensive to take mind-blowing trips every weekend.

8. Becoming bilingual will be a breeze.

Sitting in a classroom and clicking through language learning apps gets old quickly, but sharing secrets and laughing with new friends will bring your second language to life. Master a new tongue by immersing yourself! It is one of the best ways to become fluent.

Growing up in Southern California, Spanish was always very prevalent, but once I studied abroad during college, I fully immersed myself and became conversationally fluent!

7. It will expand your interests.

Maybe you are an expert surfer or a natural flamenco dancer. You will never know until you try! When you study abroad, you encounter so many new things and find yourself in places you could have never imagined. Try new things to find out what you truly love.

6. You will be a shoo–in for grad school or future jobs.

If you are thinking about continuing your education, studying abroad will be a major asset. Fortune really does favor the bold. Graduate schools look for students who push themselves and your career will be more attainable with a broader view of the world.

5. It will give you good stories for job interviews.

It’s not just grad school admissions teams that are impressed by studying abroad. The experience also looks great on your resume. Nothing says “independent go-getter” like traveling to the other side of the planet and carving out a place for yourself.

4. The new culture will make you into a culinary pro!

A new country means new foods. Every trip to the grocery store will be an adventure and you will discover new dishes each time you go out to eat. You might even get around to learning some impressive recipes.

3. You will grow beyond your comfort zone.

When you leave behind everything that is comfortable, you will find yourself in some unnerving situations. You will get to put yourself out there and take risks. You might get homesick and feel ready to run home to your mother—but you won’t.

You will overcome everything that, at first, seems so overwhelming and realize that you can face any challenge in your way.

2. You will see your own culture in a new light.

Sometimes you need to take a step back to get a view of what is really going on around you. After you see another way of living, you will have a new perspective on your own home and learn to appreciate what makes it unique.

1. It is a time of self-discovery.

Studying abroad will help you find yourself. Leaving your home and your family means you have to rely on yourself more than ever before. By expanding the boundaries of your world and exploring new countries and cultures on your own, you will see a side of yourself that you didn’t know you had.