What are the advantages and disadvantages of studying abroad

What are the advantages and disadvantages of studying abroad?

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Include an introduction and conclusion

A conclusion is essential for IELTS writing task 2. It is more important than most people realise. You will be penalised for missing a conclusion in your IELTS essay.

The easiest paragraph to write in an essay is the conclusion paragraph. This is because the paragraph mostly contains information that has already been presented in the essay – it is just the repetition of some information written in the introduction paragraph and supporting paragraphs.

The conclusion paragraph only has 3 sentences:

To summarize, a robotic teacher does not have the necessary disciple to properly give instructions to students and actually works to retard the ability of a student to comprehend new lessons. Therefore, it is clear that the idea of running a classroom completely by a machine cannot be supported. After thorough analysis on this subject, it is predicted that the adverse effects of the debate over technology-driven teaching will always be greater than the positive effects, and because of this, classroom teachers will never be substituted for technology.

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Advantages and Disadvantages of Studying Abroad

The advantages and disadvantages of studying abroad have to be weighed up when making a decision about whether or not to study abroad. The advantages of studying abroad include learning a new language, boosting your résumé and experiencing new things, while the disadvantages include crippling homesickness, high costs and cultural barriers. Send My Bag will explore each of these advantages and disadvantages of studying abroad in more detail.

Advantages of studying abroad

It makes you a more interesting person

It’s a cliché, but studying abroad really does broaden your horizons. Being in a foreign country and seeing how other cultures approach life makes you challenge your assumptions. It makes you see things from another point of view, which turns you into a more rounded and more open-minded person.

It gives you something to talk about

You get to learn a new language

If you study abroad in a country where they don’t speak your native language, you will have an excellent opportunity to learn theirs. There is nothing like living in a country to learn its language. If you already know the basics of the language, this is your opportunity to improve your fluency.

It looks good on your résumé/ CV

Having a period spent studying abroad on your CV tells employers that you are a well-travelled person who is open to different cultures and different points of view. It also suggests that you have the ability to be independent and that you likely possess valuable language skills.

Better learning opportunities

Studying abroad makes it easier for you to receive the best possible teaching in your chosen field of study. This is because you can apply to study at the leading institutions in the world for your subject, rather than settling on what institutions are close to home.

It takes you out of your comfort zone

Moving abroad to study forces you to be independent and not rely on family members for support. You will have to work out for yourself how everything works in your host country. This gives you the opportunity to confront any social anxieties you may have and become a more confident person as a result. You will realise that you can do much more for yourself than you previously thought.

You can create social networks around the world

Not only will you mix with people who come from your host country, but you will also meet lots of other international students from around the world. You will hopefully create contacts and friends for life, whom you can visit whenever you are in their neck of the woods.

Disadvantages of studying abroad

More intense homesickness

Studying away from home can be tough enough even if you have only moved across the country or to another state. So consider how much tougher it might be to study in a place that is miles away from home and in a country that is vastly different to what you are used to. Being halfway around the world will also make it more difficult to go home for the holidays or for the weekend. But don’t worry too much about homesickness; it will come and go. Follow our guide to battling homesickness and think about including some items from home that will cheer you up when sending your possessions abroad with Send My Bag.

High cost

It is often the case that tuition fees are higher for international students. Plus, you may not be entitled to the same student loans that you would receive back at home. In addition, you will have to factor in considerable moving costs when you choose to study abroad.

Your family will miss you

Not only might you miss home, but your parents and the rest of your family may find it hard to adjust to you being so far from home. But, being far away geographically doesn’t mean you can’t stay in regular contact. Download these top apps for studying abroad, which include great ways to keep in contact and share your experiences abroad.

Language and cultural barriers

While studying abroad is an excellent opportunity to learn a new language, you may initially have some problems with language barriers. This is especially likely at the beginning when you need to arrange things like a bank account and accommodation. It is also possible that you could come up against cultural barriers to do with religion, gender roles, or communication differences.

Longer travelling time

Studying abroad inevitably entails longer travelling times, potentially with connecting flights and/or stop overs. An exhausting and time-consuming journey could turn into something you dread. You can make your journey more bearable, however, by sending your luggage to your final destination with Send My Bag. Just carry with you anything you might need for the journey and send everything else to your accommodation. This means you don’t have to bother with luggage check in or baggage carousels, which is especially handy when you need to change flights. Send My Bag sends luggage all around the world, to and from destinations such as Vietnam, Saudi Arabia, Spain, and many more! Can’t decide what to pack? Get inspiration from our packing list for study abroad.

Higher risk

If you are unlucky enough to dislike your course, or if you come up against some personal issues and need to return home prematurely, you will have wasted a lot more time, effort and money than if you had chosen to study at home.

There are both advantages and disadvantages to studying abroad, but the disadvantages tend to be worst-case scenarios, or they can be easily overcome. So don’t let the disadvantages of studying abroad put you off making an important life decision that will bring you a wealth of benefits. Wondering where you should study? Check out our guide to the best places to study abroad.

Don’t forget you can ship your luggage with Send My Bag when studying abroad, allowing you to create a home from home.

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Moving to America is still a very exciting prospect for people of many nationalities around the world. You can read our blog on the numerous reasons for moving to the USA to find out why. If you have decided to join the one million plus people who move to America each year, there are a number of steps you will need to take to make sure your dream is fulfilled. Send My Bag has put together a list of those steps to show you how to move to America and to set you off on the right track.

The Many Advantages and Disadvantages of Studying Abroad

Trying to learn more about the advantages and disadvantages of studying abroad? I hope this post helps!

I’ve lived, worked, and travelled in a fair number of countries around the world at this point.

But I’m still waiting to study abroad!

It’s been on my bucket list for years though. I want to go to France, take a language course, immerse myself in the culture and walk away with “learn another language” ticked off my bucket list.

I get excited when I think about it, though there’s a definite dose of apprehension in there too…

I mean, I’ll be in a place I can’t really communicate, in a new culture I don’t fully understand, surrounded by people I don’t know, doing something difficult.

In others words, I’ll be totally out of my comfort zone.

So, to settle my nerves and wrap my head around everything, I decided to look into the advantages and disadvantages of studying abroad I have ahead of me (whenever I finally make it happen!).

Are you thinking about studying abroad and, like me, want to find out more about the experience?

Well, keep reading for all of the study abroad advantages and study abroad disadvantages I could find.

Ready to learn all about 16 study abroad advantages and disadvantages? Here they are…

16 Study Abroad Advantages and Disadvantages

Spoiler alert: there are definitely more advantages of studying abroad than there are disadvantages.

Nevertheless, it didn’t take long to realize that we would indeed have pros and cons of studying abroad to bear in mind. I’ll go through both in the coming post- starting with the positives!

9 Amazing Studying Abroad Advantages

As you’d expect, there’s no shortage of studying abroad benefits to look forward to. Here’s a selection of the top study abroad advantages that stand out amongst the rest:

1. You’re Forced Outside of Your Comfort Zone

Being outside your comfort zone is never easy (more on this in the disadvantages of studying abroad section).

But it is an amazing way to develop as a person!

Challenging yourself in any realm of life is the best way to realize what you’re capable of as a human being. Instead of running from obstacles (and fear), you lean into them, come through the hardship, and discover new things about yourself in the process.

Studying abroad will test you in a wide range of ways. However, you’ll come home as a more mature, confident, skilled, and empowered person as a result.

2. You Meet Amazing People (Primary pros of studying abroad)

In my experience, spending time overseas is an incredible way to cross paths with new and interesting people.

You’ll meet cool and friendly faces from all walks of life and with different ways of life too. You’ll hang out with the locals, interact with people on your course, and make a brand new set of friends.

Even better, those friendships will last far longer than your time studying!

You’ll go home having made lifelong connections in a brand new part of the world.

3. It (Often) Contributes Towards Your Degree

Okay, this one doesn’t always apply- so don’t take my word for it! Be sure to check/confirm this advantage of studying abroad before you go.

Nevertheless, the credits you earn while time studying abroad may contribute to your degree programme back home.

That means you get an epic experience without falling behind your peers!

Don’t worry if it doesn’t contribute to your degree though. You can always make up those extra credits another way and your life-changing experience overseas should more than justify any extra effort that’s required to do it.

Meeting new people (and forging new friendships) is one of the biggest studying abroad advantages to come.

4. You Enjoy Newfound Independence

For some people, studying abroad will give them a first taste of true independence.

They big farewell to parents at the airport and step out into the big wide world. It’s scary, but exhilarating. Nobody knows who you are and nobody you know is there to set any rules.

You can do what you want and be who you want, with no fear of judgment or retribution.

In other words, you can have pure, unencumbered fun and figure out who you want to be when you get back home.

5. You Can Travel! (My personal favourite of the studying abroad benefits!)

Studying abroad is something of a misnomer.

Sure, you’re going to do some studying. Yet you’re in a brand new country, possibly on the other side of world, surrounded by unmissable sights and attractions…

It’s natural to go exploring too!

And I’m 100% sure that it’ll be one of my personal favourite benefits of studying abroad.

Evenings, weekends, and vacations could be spent lazing on the local beach, wandering around the wonders of the world, immersing yourself in the cultural scene of the area, or hopping on a bus to nowhere and seeing where you end up.

Put simply, you get to travel— to explore a new place and experience a new culture (more on this next). That, for me, is reason enough to go studying abroad in the first place.

6. You’re Experience a New Culture

Going overseas makes you realize that there’s more to life than your own backyard.

You see that the world is big, that your bubble of friends and family is small, and that you’ve got some serious exploring to do!

Study abroad and you’ll step into another world- into another culture.

The local people may have customs and traditions that you don’t understand, a way of life that’s a total mystery, and values at complete odds with your own. It’s fascinating, enlightening, and an education all of its own.

Studying hard overseas leads to newfound job prospects at home! It’s one of the more practical advantages of studying abroad to look forward to.

7. Job Prospects Improve Back Home

Another advantage of studying abroad is that your horizons at home improve too.

Basically, employers like the fact that you’ve been overseas to study!

It makes you more interesting than the other candidates. It makes you different, adds a string to your bow, and indicates a set of personal qualities (independence, confidence, maturity…) that will serve you well in forthcoming job applications.

Furthermore, you’ll walk away from your time overseas with newfound self-belief. That’s always a bonus when you’re applying for jobs.

8. You Get to Learn a New Language

Let’s not forget that you have an amazing opportunity to learn a new language too.

After all, you might be in France, Spain, or South America; China, Germany, or Greece…

It doesn’t matter where you go really. As long as they speak a different language, you can come away speaking something new (and impressing your friends and family in the process).

9. You’ll Have Some Fun Stories to Tell

Last but not least, studying overseas is an adventure. It’s a way to embrace life- to do something cool and different and memorable.

You step away from the norm, experience something totally different, and end up with unforgettable, fun-filled stories to tell as a result. You’ll never be short of a tale to tell around the dinner table and forge memories of foreign exploits that’ll last a lifetime.

Alas, there are disadvantages of studying abroad to expect as well. Here are 7 of the most common.

You might also enjoy this post about the advantages and disadvantages of travelling! Check it out!

7 Noteworthy Study Abroad Disadvantages

The advantages studying abroad has to offer are both significant and wide-ranging. However, there are definite drawbacks of studying abroad that are worth acknowledging too.

Here are a few of the most noteworthy studying abroad disadvantages:

1. Comfort Zone Pushes & Shoves

As I said before, studying abroad isn’t going to be easy. Far from it. The whole experience will push you out of your comfort zone and into something altogether more challenging.

The good news is that there’s (almost) always a happy ending.

But the road to get there is sure to test you.

There will be ups and downs, peaks and troughs, sad times and uncertain times. You might feel lonely, isolated, unsure of yourself and unclear why you ever left home in the first place.

It’s never fun at the time. Rest assured, though, it will make you stronger! Like a phoenix that rises from the flames, you’ll discover your inner resilience and come through feeling more capable and independent thereafter.

2. Navigating a New Language

I can say from personal experience how challenging it can be to wrap your head around a new language. Get ready to feel lost, befuddled, and confused as you strike up conversations with the locals!

It’s something I find personally difficult.

For one thing, I don’t like asking someone to repeat themselves more than twice! It gets to the third time and I just stand there nodding my head- pretending like I understood…

Then there’s the whole ‘I can’t communicate with anybody so I feel alone’ thing. That’s never fun either. I find that it can be quite isolating when you don’t know the language.

Thankfully, this shouldn’t be an issue when you’re studying overseas.

There’ll always be someone who speaks your language; there might even be entire classrooms of them. Yet you’re sure to experience the occasional moment of difficulty- especially if you put the effort into learning the language (which you should!).

Studying abroad disadvantages is sure to involve a level of culture shock too! You might end up studying harder than you’d expected…

3. Overcoming the Culture Shock! (Top studying abroad disadvantages!)

Experiencing a new culture is just as amazing as I said in the ‘study abroad advantages’ section.

However, it’s got its downsides too.

Different cultures can be hard to wrap your head around. You realize that your way of life isn’t the norm anymore; you’re the odd one out and don’t (at least to begin with) know how to fit in.

You might say or do the wrong thing. You might insult somebody without meaning to. You might have a different sense of humour, have different ideas about right and wrong, and approach life in a wholly different way to the locals.

The good news is that (more often than not) it doesn’t take long to grow accustomed to the new way of life. But there’s no denying things can feel discombobulating along the way.

4. Dealing With a New Climate

Don’t underestimate the impact of a new climate either.

Imagine growing up in a hot country that enjoys a lot of sunshine throughout the year. Stepping off the plane into a place that’s dark and cold and rains all the time can be a serious shock to your system…And vice versa, of course.

It can impact your mood, give you the blues, and hinder your enjoyment of the experience. Of course, it can also make things uncomfortable if you’re not well-suited to the weather/temperature!

You might sleep badly, find it harder to exercise, and struggle with your motivation.

Thankfully, you can and will adapt! Give it a bit of time and your body/brain will automatically adjust to the new environment.

5. The Financial Cost

Going overseas can be expensive too…especially if you’re going to be charged the nightmarishly high fees that foreign students often have to cover!

Throw in the cost of travel, accommodation, food, and so on, and your bank balance can definitely suffer.

Don’t let that stop you though. Hustle, scrimp, scrounge, and save over time and you’ll soon have enough in your account to pay for the trip.

Look into possible scholarships, funds, or schemes that may contribute to/cover the costs too.

Likewise, if you’re doing a degree in your home country, there might even be an exchange/Erasmus scheme where the cost of studying overseas is the same as you’d be paying at home. With the tuition fee sorted, you’d “only” have to think about living expenses and so on.

Homesickness is one of the most common study abroad disadvantages you can expect to experience on your trip!

6. Handling Homesickness

Homesickness has and always will be a natural by-product of venturing far away from your home, friends, and family.

And it’s never fun. In fact, you can expect days (especially at the start, when the initial excitement wears off) when you’ll miss home so much it hurts.

But it won’t last forever! Homesickness comes and goes, waxes and wanes, and may, after a while, disappear altogether. You’ll adapt to your new lifestyle and location, and grow accustomed to being away.

In fact, by the end of your trip you might not even want to go back…

7. Reverse Homesickness

‘Reverse homesickness’ is my term for missing life overseas when you eventually get home! Put simply, coming home is hard when you’ve had such an amazing experience.

It’s a strange mixture of emotions.

Of course, it’ll be lovely to see everyone and be back in your own bed again. But you’ll soon yearn to be travelling, exploring, and studying in the other country again too.

You’ll miss the people you met and the connections you made, and suffer intense nostalgia that the trip has come to an end. In my experience of travel, everything at home will feel exactly the same, whereas you feel fundamentally different!

The Advantages and Disadvantages of Studying Abroad

Are you, like me, thinking of studying abroad in future? And are you, like me, a little intimidated by the idea of what’s to come?

Well, I hope the advantages and disadvantages of studying abroad that I’ve talked about in this post have shed useful light on the experience and helped settle your nerves!

Though the disadvantages of studying abroad are very real, it seems clear that the advantages of studying abroad far outweigh them. Dive into the experience of studying overseas and you’ll come away with a host of new skills, insights, memories, friends, and stories to tell.

34 Major Pros & Cons Of Studying Abroad

“Cross-cultural learning and studying abroad can be transformative.”

Amal Clooney, Activist

Advantages & Disadvantages of Studying Abroad

Studying abroad has become increasingly popular over the past decades.

Through the high level of globalization and the invention of the internet, it has become rather easy to apply to universities in foreign countries and to spend one semester at a foreign university.

Although studying abroad has many important advantages, it also implies some issues.

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In this article, the pros and cons of studying abroad are examined in detail.

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Advantages of Studying Abroad

You will get to know new cultures

One key advantage of studying abroad is that you will get to know new cultures.

Especially if you spend your semester abroad in exotic places of our planet, you will experience that the cultural values in those regions can be quite different from the cultural values back home.

This can be quite an important insight since it shows you the relativity of the world and of our cultural norms which we often take for granted in general.

Hence, in order to broaden your horizon and to get to know new ways of life, studying abroad can definitely help you in this regard.

You can practice foreign languages

Learning foreign languages becomes more and more important.

Due to the high level of globalization, we often have to communicate with people all over the world in our jobs.

Therefore, in case you aspire to a demanding international corporate career, spending a semester abroad can definitely help you to improve your language skills, which will in turn also benefit you in the corporate world later on.

Moreover, also apart from better job opportunities, learning foreign languages can be quite interesting and a lot of fun for many people.

Studying abroad can boost your confidence

During my semester abroad, I soon noticed that my overall confidence significantly increased over time.

This is due to the fact that you will learn so many new things and you will also face some challenges from time to time.

However, it is crucial to master those challenges in order to become a better version of yourself, even though it might be hard from time to time.

Therefore, since you will always face new challenges and also experience new things, you will soon lose the fear to experience new stuff and your overall level of confidence will likely increase significantly, which can also give you an edge in many other parts of your life in the future.

May give you the opportunity to make many new friends

Since you will meet so many new people during your semester abroad, chances are that you will also make many new friends.

Some of those friendships might even last for a lifetime.

For instance, I’m still in contact with some people whom I got to know during my semester abroad and we have become quite good friends.

If you love traveling, it is also quite cool if you can meet up with many different people in several parts of our planet.

Therefore, studying abroad gives you a unique opportunity to make many great friendships that may even last for a lifetime.

You may be able to improve your education levels

There are also countries in which college education is rather bad.

If you live in one of those countries, chances are that you may be able to significantly improve your overall education level by going for a semester abroad.

However, also note that in such a case, you might have difficulties with the high education levels in other countries and may have a hard time since exams might be much more challenging abroad.

Advanced learning and education techniques

If you study abroad at a quite good university, chances are that you may also profit from quite good education techniques and learning methods.

Many universities adapted to the technological progress regarding digitalization and offer many additional learning platforms, which may improve your learning experience you quite a lot.

You can make unforgettable memories

Another upside of studying abroad is that you can make many unforgettable memories.

I still have many nice memories when I think back to my semester abroad and I don’t want to miss a single one of them.

Many people claim that their semester abroad has been one of the best times in their lives and I can strongly agree with that.

You meet people from all over the world

By studying abroad, you can also meet people from all over the world.

Especially if the college is quite focused on offering plenty of courses also for international students, chances are that you will get to know many people from all over the world.

This can be quite interesting since you will experience new cultures and will have plenty of fun with your new colleagues.

Better personal support of students

Especially if you spend your semester abroad at quite good universities, you may also be able to benefit from much better personal support compared to your home university.

Those elite universities often have a pretty good student-to-teacher ratio and there will be enough time to answer individual questions.

You will get out of your comfort zone

Another advantage of studying abroad is that you will be forced out of your comfort zone.

Sure, we can all agree that we like to stay inside our comfort zone since it is quite convenient there.

However, only if we get out of our comfort zone from time to time, we will be able to experience new things and to really grow in personality.

Honestly, I got my most valuable lessons in life when I was out of my comfort zone and had to face serious challenges.

Therefore, if you want to learn new things and to really develop in personality, getting out of your comfort zone and studying in foreign countries can help you quite a lot.

Will give you a different perspective on life

Since you will experience new cultures during your semester abroad, you will also get a completely different perspective on life in general.

People who don’t travel or don’t study abroad often believe that their cultural values that they have been taught their whole lives are the gold standard.

However, if you travel a lot or study abroad, you will soon realize that cultural values strongly differ across the world and what you have considered being normal is just a small fraction of your individual perception of reality.

This is quite important to understand since it significantly increases the level of tolerance towards other lifestyles and makes our global society much more tolerant.

You can stay at a guest family

When I planned my study abroad, I had to decide whether I wanted to stay in the dorms or at a guest family. I decided to go for the second option and never regretted it.

In fact, it was the best thing to do since we have become really good friends over time and I also got to know the life of the locals much better since I experienced how my guest family lived every day.

Thus, also the experience of living in a guest family can be a quite valuable experience and can really enrich your semester abroad quite a lot.

Way of learning might be completely different

Chances are that you will also experience new ways of learning during your studies abroad.

For instance, the curriculum might be quite different and, in my case, I had to do plenty of assignments and homework which I was not familiar with from my university life back home.

Moreover, there also had been some midterm exams instead of just one final exam.

Therefore, you may also have to adjust your learning behavior a little bit, which is not bad at all since you will learn who to adjust to new educational frameworks.

Your level of independence will improve

Another significant benefit of studying abroad is that you will learn how to become really independent.

Many students, especially if they still live at home, suffer from a serious lack of independence since their parents still do their laundry and cook for them.

If you are one of those students, you should definitely go for a semester abroad since you will learn to take care of yourself, which is crucial for several parts of your future life.

Plenty of leisure

During your semester abroad, you will also have plenty of leisure time which you can spend on hanging out with your new friends or for trips to national parks or other sights near your college.

In my case, I never had so much leisure again in my life and I definitely recommend you use this opportunity to have a great time since after you finished your studies, you will no longer have this opportunity since you will have to work in a job for quite long hours and your leisure time will be quite limited, especially if you also start a family.

You will learn about your strengths and weaknesses

Since you have to organize all your things during your semester abroad by yourself, you will also learn much more about yourself and also about your strengths and weaknesses.

This is quite important for your future life since everyone of us has weaknesses and it is crucial to know about them in order to adjust or to get help for things you are pretty bad at.

However, many people don’t really know about their strengths and weaknesses too much in our current state of the world, which may lead to serious problems for them sooner or later.

Only if you know about your strengths and weaknesses in detail, you can figure out what you really want to do with your life in a successful manner.

You can grow in character

Many people also significantly grow in character during their semester abroad.

Since you get to know so many new things, your overall view on the world in general will change and you will likely also adapt new things you learned during your studies in foreign countries.

Moreover, through experiencing many new cultures, your overall character development may be accelerated quite a lot.

Scholarships may help you finance your semester abroad

In some countries, there are also scholarships in place which may finance your studies abroad in case you are not able to financially afford it otherwise.

Thus, if you are interested in studying abroad, make sure to check out if there are some programs in place in your country that help you finance your studies in a foreign country.

May be beneficial for your career

Many big companies nowadays require you to spend a semester abroad in order to hire you after you finished your studies.

Many companies know how important it is to get to know new cultures and want to have employees who already got to know cultural diversity.

Hence, if you aspire to a career in a big corporation, you might want to spend a semester abroad in order to improve your chances of getting a job in those companies.

Good in case you want to work abroad

Also if you plan to work abroad later on in your life, studying in the country you want to work in later on may also greatly improve your chances of getting hired since you will be able to improve your language skills and may also be able to adapt to the new culture much better.

Therefore, if you plan to work in a foreign country in the future, studying abroad can also give you an edge in this regard.

Disadvantages of a Semester Abroad

Can be expensive

Apart from the several advantages of studying abroad, there are also some issues related to it.

One problem with studying abroad is that it can be quite expensive.

You will have to pay for rent, tuition fees and many other things you will need for daily life.

Therefore, depending on the regions where you want to spend your semester abroad, you should make sure that you have enough money for it in order to avoid running out of money in a foreign country after a while.

Not affordable for children from poor families

Since studying abroad is rather costly, it might not be affordable for students that come from poor families.

Especially for students from poor developing countries of our planet, it will never be affordable to spend a semester abroad in a country in the rich Western world since it will be far too expensive.

Therefore, for people in those countries, it would be reasonable to introduce enough scholarships that are financed by the government so that more students would have the opportunity to study abroad and to represent their nation all over the world.

You may suffer from homesickness

Another downside of studying abroad is that you may get homesick over time.

Especially if this is your first time that you are away from your home for an extended period of time, chances are that you will not be able to adapt to the new circumstances at the beginning and that you will miss your family and your friends.

Thus, be mentally prepared that the first days or weeks might be rough for you since you will not have your loved ones around you and you have to stand on your own feet instead.

Communication problems

In case you are not fluent in the local language, you might also suffer from serious communication problems.

Even though you will manage to communicate to a certain extent, it might be quite difficult to get in touch with locals if you don’t speak the local language in a sufficient manner.

Hence, you may want to make sure to learn the language of the country you want to spend your semester abroad in order to avoid communication problems later on.

You may have difficulties to adapt to new cultures

Especially if you decide to spend your semester abroad in rather exotic places of our planet, you may have a quite hard time adapting to the local culture and to the different ways of life.

You may feel quite uncomfortable with some local habitats and if you are someone who has difficulties adapting to new customs, chances are that you may not have a quite good time during your semester abroad.

You may not want to go back home

Some people also really love studying abroad.

I know many people who had a quite hard time to leave their guest families behind.

Some people also have difficulties to adapt to their life back home since they simply are no longer used to it.

Classes may be too difficult for you

You may have problems during your semester abroad since some classes may just be too difficult for you.

Especially if you come from a country where education levels are rather low, chances are that you will be overwhelmed if you study in a country which has quite high educational standards.

May prolong your duration of study

Another problem of studying abroad is that it might also prolong the duration of your studies.

While this is not a problem for some companies, other companies may refrain from employing you since they consider to spend a semester abroad as kind of lazy or even useless.

Not manageable in case you already have children

If you already have children, chances are that you will not be able to manage a semester abroad since you will have to take care of your children and studying in a foreign country will not be feasible for you in such a case.

Some friendships may be lost over time

Even though you can make many good friends during your semester abroad, you may also lose some of those friendships over time.

It is quite natural that you lose contact with many people over time and therefore, there may not be too many friends from your studies abroad left after a few years.

You may feel overwhelmed

Due to the many new impressions, you may also feel quite overwhelmed, especially at the beginning of your semester abroad when everything is new to you and you have to organize everything by yourself.

Some people may not be able to deal with this new state properly, especially if they still live at home with their parents in their home country.

It may be hard to transfer credits to your home university

Some universities may also not acknowledge your academic achievements from other foreign universities and therefore, you may have a hard time when it comes to transferring the credits you earned during your semester abroad to your home country.

Thus, before choosing courses, make sure that the credits will be transferrable in order to avoid any unpleasant surprises when you are back at your home university.

Cultural shocks

If the cultural values between your home country and the country you spend your semester abroad are too big, you may literally suffer from a cultural shock.

If you are not able to deal with those differences on a mental level, chances are that your overall experience during your semester abroad may be quite poor.

Social exclusion

Some countries are also still quite reserved towards foreigners.

Therefore, if you spend your semester abroad in a country that is rather skeptical about foreign students, you may have a quite hard time to connect to locals and to make friendships and might even become socially isolated.

Mental issues

Since you will have to take care of so many things and also have to organize your life by yourself, chances are that you might be quite overwhelmed at the beginning.

While the majority of people will adapt to those new challenges in a healthy manner, a small fraction of people might even develop serious mental issues.

Top 10 Studying Abroad Pros & Cons – Summary List

Should You Study Abroad?

As we can see from the previous analysis, studying abroad provides you with a unique opportunity to experience a completely new way of life.

Yet, apart from the many important advantages, there are also some problems related to a semester abroad.

However, in my opinion, the pros of studying abroad outweigh the cons and my semester abroad was one of the best times of my life.

Thus, I definitely recommend that you go for it if you have the opportunity to do so.

Sources

About the author

My name is Andreas and my mission is to educate people of all ages about our environmental problems and how everyone can make a contribution to mitigate these issues.

As I went to university and got my Master’s degree in Economics, I did plenty of research in the field of Development Economics.

After finishing university, I traveled around the world. From this time on, I wanted to make a contribution to ensure a livable future for the next generations in every part of our beautiful planet.

Wanna make a contribution to save our environment? Share it!

Advantages and disadvantages of studying abroad

Studying in foreign countries is a big decision that brings along a number of benefits, but it is not without its challenges. This is why one needs to thoroughly analyze the advantages and disadvantages of studying abroad before making the final call.

The pros and cons can differ from one student to another, but there are some things that can always be assessed objectively. Firstly, one needs to meet the requirements for enrollment into a school abroad. This primarily means – great grades; if possible, accompanied by extraordinary talents that can lead not only to enrollment, but also to a scholarship.

Greatest advantages of studying abroad

What is the advantage that international students receive if they choose to attend American schools? Firstly, going abroad is a big step that brings new experiences and different perspectives on life. Education abroad lets one acquire knowledge that considerably expands the scope of future career options.

The acquired knowledge opens up the possibility of working at successful companies that are always in search of talented young experts. Also, education in the USA opens the door to many international companies that highly value diplomas from American schools.

Different approach to education

The main reason why students choose studying in another country is a different approach to education. Even if lectures are in English, the educational system in the student’s country of origin is certainly different from the American one, from the curriculum, through the learning techniques, to the way the teachers conduct their lessons. Many find this difference in approach beneficial, and even achieve better results than they used to at home.

Learn a new language

Going to another country brings along a great challenge – learning to speak a different language. Although many people abroad speak English, lessons are usually given in the local language and opportunities to practice are limited. Studying abroad is an excellent opportunity for learning a new language or advancing one’s knowledge of an already familiar language. Spending a part of life in the country where the language is spoken is indispensable when it comes to developing fluency through active use.

Even when it is not the primary goal, learning a language is necessary if the students want to fully experience their new environment. The entire experience of living abroad is more colorful when you understand the locals and the world around you in general. This is even more important if you would like to remain there after graduation. In that case, the mastery of the local language makes it much easier to land a well-paying job. For some, studying abroad can be a part of a long-term plan that includes settling and working there after graduation.

Personal development

Education in another country is an excellent way to advance yourself, and maybe even discover your own traits that you have not been aware of. Encountering different lifestyles and solutions to everyday challenges will help you build character and habits crucial for success in life.

In a situation where you need to rely on yourself, you will fully realize the importance of self-discipline and dedication to the goal you have set for yourself. Although you will meet friends who will help you along the way and learn from top teachers, at the end of the day, it is all up to you and your own personal development.

Different culture

Studying abroad means that you will spend considerable time in the USA, a country that might turn out to be much different than yours. Although at a glance it might seem that the modern lifestyle is similar – after all, they use Facebook and Twitter everywhere – the differences should not be disregarded. Firstly, there is food and its effect on the lifestyle. Its importance extends much further than the fact whether something is spicy or sweet. Food is the basis of every culture – it is an occasion for people to get together, exchange ideas and make new friends.

Cultural differences can open new outlooks on life. Studying the specific traits of American culture is sure to leave a lasting impression, expand your horizons and change your life for the better. So use your stay for a road trip and have a firsthand experience in local culture.

New friends

Making friends abroad is a unique experience because students from all over the world are gathered in one place. It is an opportunity to get to know people whom you would otherwise never meet. They all share the same goal – to acquire new knowledge, and exchange ideas and experiences with people from all parts of the world. This way, one can forge friendships that will last for life, and network with future experts in the relevant field. Do we need to remind you that some of the most successful companies were funded by people who met in school?

Career changing opportunity

Whether you want to work in the States after graduation or not, the knowledge and diploma you will acquire can serve as a great recommendation for companies worldwide. The American educational system is highly esteemed in the international job market, and one should also bear in mind the fact that many companies are in search of new talent with a background in this specific educational system. It will be much easier to get your break if you have not only attended college but also acquired work experience through an internship. Not everyone has these experiences, which are held in high regard in expert circles.

What are the disadvantages of studying abroad?

As it is a big, life-changing decision, it is clear that it involves some challenges too. They primarily have to do with the change in lifestyle, adopting new daily habits, and a decrease in communication with friends and family; also, this important decision is never made without financial considerations.

Friends and family

When you choose to go abroad, you need to be aware that this means leaving your family and friends behind. This can come as a great shock to some, especially if they are very close to their environment. Although many return after graduation, the very fact of leaving home and staying somewhere far away for a long time is an insurmountable obstacle for some. Luckily, these days, it is not as hard as it used to be, thanks to social networks and other means of communication.

However, homesickness is something that cannot be avoided, especially when one considers the time zone difference, which can amplify the sense of isolation from those nearest and dearest. Luckily, this can be alleviated by trips home for the holidays and enjoying packages from home (with favorite cookies and other things that remind one of home).

Cost of studying

There are a number of subjective obstacles that can lead one away from the idea of studying overseas. However, there is one factual, objective factor that has the greatest bearing on the final decision – the finances. Truth be told, studying abroad can be very expensive. Certain scholarships and student benefits can alleviate the living expenses only up to a point. In any case, one requires accommodation, food, and daily expenses.

This is why education needs to be planned ahead in order to prepare the resources for life in another country in time. The costs vary depending on state, but as a rule, the highest prices of student life are in the cities where the elite educational institutions are located. Luckily, in the United States, there are a number of benefits for students such as scholarships, as well as the option of working part-time jobs.

Cultural differences

Although it is generally a good idea to experience different cultures, visiting a town as a tourist and living there for a while are not the same. Different habits, different food and different ways of communication can be a big problem to some. Although they seem like little things, the cultural differences put together can really bother a foreigner. A different concept of friendliness and a sense of rejection can lead to alienation and loneliness.

These problems can also result from unrealistic expectations and an idealized view of the destination. Students who already have the experience of living abroad can be of great help with this. Their experiences and their advice can help you understand the local customs and way of life. With good preparations, almost all difficulties brought about by moving into another country can be fully avoided.

Studying abroad will change your life

Every person reacts to challenges in their own way, so it is important to research the potential destinations and the advantages and disadvantages of studying abroad in time. Not everyone enjoys a dramatic change, but there are a number of benefits that need to be taken into consideration when making the decision. Of course, any change as big as going to live a while on another continent is sure to be accompanied by some challenges that need to be overcome.

But it can also be the best route to success, independence, and acquiring international school experience. The decision of studying abroad needs to be made only after a thorough analysis of all the options and their pros and cons, taking into consideration the required personal skills (independence, communicativeness, adjustability, flexibility…). If you are ready for a big adventure and all the challenges it brings, studying abroad is definitely a good idea and an amazing life experience.