Eight Reasons Why You Should Consider a Virtual Study Abroad Experience
Written by Guest Blogger: Sara Cavalieri
So your plan was to study abroad this semester or the next semester. Maybe you were planning to do your entire degree overseas.
You did the research; maybe you had even chosen your destination, applied, got accepted, booked your flights and were all set to begin your adventure.
And then COVID-19 hit, and everywhere you looked, borders were closing, flights were being cancelled, cases were spiking, and there was just a large amount of uncertainty on every corner.
Now what? Enter… virtual experiences; or virtual study abroad if you like.
With so many of us finding extra time in our day from not commuting, or traveling as much, here are 8 reasons why you should consider enrolling in a virtual experience:
They’re confirmed – How many other activities can say the same? As businesses are forced to open and close from one day to the next, there’s nothing ‘uncertain’ here; with a virtual program, consider your plans a lock. Having that ‘confirmation’ sure would feel nice, right?
They’re comfortable – It’s culture without so much of the shock. You will often find yourself in a virtual classroom with students and teachers from around the globe; giving you an instant network. And it may be that you’ll be able to travel with this group at a later stage, making the transition and process of forming connections so much easier.
They’re flexible – You can often tailor your virtual experience around your job or other responsibilities. When is it most convenient for you to “leave your local behind’?
They look great on your resume – If you’re applying for college, grad school or jobs soon, they may want to know how you engaged with your subject area when you couldn’t do so in person. Virtual experiences are an excellent activity to add to your resume, as they are great talking points and examples of how you took the initiative to further your learning and thought outside the box.
They’re safe – You won’t have to worry about picking up the virus or potentially having to get vaccinated for other diseases; you get to enjoy the experience from the comfort of your own home/study space.
More money in your pocket – Without having to pay for flights or accommodation, the investment is lower. This means that some students who wouldn’t normally have been able to go overseas at all can participate.
No passport or visa required – And this means you don’t have to plan 3-6 months in advance. You may even be able to jump on a program just a few days away. Have a look and see what’s out there!
Discover new interests – Maybe you’re interested in Italian cuisine and this type of course isn’t offered where you live. Or maybe you’re in college and want to get credit for an elective not offered at your institution. Either way, virtual experiences give you the space to explore new interests that may or may not be relevant to your future career but in fact allow you to develop as a more well-rounded person.
Regardless of the program you choose, you’ll no doubt reap the benefits from adding a global flavor to your learning.
This includes increasing your cultural competencies, improving your communication skills and getting to delve deeper into a topic of interest, gaining a wide range of perspectives—and these are exactly the skills every employer is looking for nowadays.
But if nothing else, virtual experiences allow you to transport yourself away from the stresses and pressures of everyday life in a pandemic—something we all need to do from time to time.
Sara Cavalieri is the Founder/CEO of College Apps Abroad.
College Apps Abroad is an Independent Educational Consultant that specializes in providing advice and guidance on applying for college and grad school overseas in places such as the UK, Australia, Ireland and more.
Learn more about College Apps Abroad here.
The views and opinions expressed in guest features on EdOdyssey’s blog are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of EdOdyssey. Any content provided by our bloggers or guest authors are of their opinion.
