Is Study Abroad for Me?



Before you decide to go and take your entire degree abroad, you need to consider a few questions first:

•are you able to leave your home for an extended amount of time?

•will you be able to take your studies in a second language? or can you find an appropriate institution that will have studies in your first language?

Don't worry about funding

You will be able to find special scholarships, grants, and loans for students studying abroad. Check out the site below for more information on loans for studying abroad.

Weigh the Pros and Cons

Perhaps you want a degree in Political Science, or in a foreign language, or in history. Many of these degrees will look great if they are from a foreign country. However, you need to check to make sure that you are going to an accredited university and find out if the school to which you are applying is respected. You don't want to go to Australia for teacher's college only to find out that the Australian B.Ed. program won't be accepted by the school board here when you get back.

Find out exactly what degree you are getting. If you are getting a D.Phil from the University of Edinburgh, does that count as the same thing as a Ph.D. from an American school? Ask not only at the school that you are planning on attending, but also ask at Universities here what equivalencies they accept. Be sure to also find out from prospective employers what they think of your proposed degree. You are going to get a degree to be educated for a field: know what your field will think of your education.

Balance your Education

If you are planning to go on to graduate education after your bachelor's degree, consider getting one of your degrees in America, or getting one of your degrees in the country that you wish to settle down in. This will add to your academic credibility. Having international travel and experience on your side will also look great on your resume.

Take Advantage of all Opportunities

If you want to travel, but you don't think that you want to go away for two or four years, consider doing a student exchange through an American or Canadian university. This will also make sure that you get credited for the equivalences for the courses that you take.

If you do go over to take your degree, travel around as much as you can while you are there. You might not have an opportunity for travel like this again. Be a tourist, a scholar, and a local all at once. Plan weekend trips to far away places with your friends. Make friends with as many people as you can when you get there.

If you can get involved in your new campus and new community, you will gain more through your experience. You will learn more about a different country, possibly a different language, and a different culture. You will also be able to put this information on your resume to show that you traveled and truly gained from your experience.