Why Study Abroad?
Have you ever stopped your scroll on a photo of your friends sharing a pizza with the Florence skyline as a backdrop? Or felt inspired by a video of a travel influencer walking through a rustling bamboo forest in Japan? Or maybe you have an innate curiosity about Latin American culture because of your own heritage or have found yourself daydreaming about taking a boat ride through the Amazon rainforest.
If the idea of travel intrigues you, why not be the person in those photos and videos?
Picture it: You, strolling through the streets of Lima between classes, or sipping on matcha in Fukuoka, or spending a weekend hiking in the Italian Alps with new friends.
Studying abroad is the perfect opportunity to experience the wider world before the realities of adulthood and limited vacation time settle in. Not only will you make incredible memories, but you’ll earn academic credits at the same time. And the benefits of studying abroad for a semester go well beyond an ordinary trip.
Here are a few reasons why it’s worth it:
Six (of Many!) Benefits of Studying Abroad
IT’S GREAT FOR ACADEMIC SUCCESS. According to NAFSA (National Association of Foreign Student Advisors), students who study abroad tend to return home more academically focused and motivated. They even have a higher GPA than students who stay on campus—an impact even more pronounced for minority and at-risk students. Students who study abroad also have better completion, retention, and transfer rates than students who did not study abroad.
IT’S GREAT FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT. Studying abroad is an investment in your future. There have been many studies done on this topic showing that study abroad programs have an affect on employability. Studying abroad helps you develop what the Journal of Learning and Educational Policy call “marketable skills” sharing examples like “global-mindedness, self-confidence, self-awareness, international knowledge, second language skills, communicating with others, relationships with others, and confidence/self-esteem.” A study by the IIE (Institute of International Education) found that “64% of employers prefer candidates with international experience, leading to faster career advancement.” You might even earn more! HSBC found that “graduates who have studied abroad can expect to earn 15–20% more than their counterparts who have not.”
IT’S GREAT FOR LANGUAGE LEARNING. Learning a language in a classroom is completely different from learning a language when you’re immersed in it daily. When you study abroad, you’ll have opportunities to navigate a shopping transaction, find what you need in a pharmacy, read a train map, ask for directions, or order a coffee in your new language—not just in a role play set-up like you’d have in a classroom, but in a real-life situation, with local native speakers. Being fluent in another language is a major asset for your future career (and travel aspirations, because—believe us—once you return from studying abroad, you’re bound to have a stronger sense of wanderlust than ever before!).
IT’S GREAT FOR MENTAL HEALTH. Student Universe’s report “The State of Student Travel in 2024,” features survey results that show “93% of Gen Z believe traveling has a beneficial impact on their mental state, and almost 90% return feeling less anxious and more positive.” Studying abroad in another country can be empowering, give you a greater sense of independence and self confidence as well as help you build resilience and adaptability as you tackle the everyday challenges of adapting to your new world.
IT’S GREAT FOR UNDERSTANDING OUR WORLD. Unlike on a two-week sightseeing vacation, when you study abroad you get to experience true immersion. You’ll see how local people live, think, and navigate their lives. You might take classes with both local and international students, live in a homestay, try new foods, speak with people about their worries and joys, look at the news from a different perspective, understand the traditions of another culture, and see US lifestyle and politics from an outside point of view. You may find yourself looking at your own lifestyle differently, challenging your own stereotypes and assumptions, developing a greater sense of empathy for others, reassessing your take on political issues, finding different ways to look at issues you face back home, and so much more. You’ll return to the US with an increased sense of global awareness.
IT’S GREAT FOR FRIENDSHIPS. According to IIE, “94% of study abroad students said their study abroad experience helped them connect more deeply with people from different cultural backgrounds.” The bonds that you create when you travel with someone—no matter how well or how little you knew them previously—tend to be strong, fortified by the memories you create together and the challenges you navigate on your adventures as well a an innate need for connection in a situation where you are away from your usual network. Many study abroad alumni return home with life-long friendships that cross the borders of states and countries. These will be the people who understand the life-changing experience you’ve had abroad that your friends and family back home might not quite grasp as fully as you wish they could.
And so, you could carry on as always, get another semester under your belt at your university. You know the campus. You have your friends. The schedule is easy enough. You’d go to the same parties. You’d have your usual gym routine. You’d eat the food you’re used to eating…
…Or, you could earn the same academic credits in Peru where Lima will become your city, your Spanish will improve, you’ll make deep friendships with students from across the globe, you might head into the Amazon rainforest for an unforgettable adventure on your break week, you’ll try completely different foods, you might volunteer on an environmental project, maybe you come home with a second family after living with a host, and you develop skills alongside your global experience that will help you stand apart from your peers back home when it comes time to find a job.
We know which option we’d choose (because we already did, and we loved it so much we now work in a field where our passion is to encourage other students to have the same experience!).
Here are a few words from EdOdyssey alumna Emily Baker to inspire you even more: “I experienced the trip of a lifetime! Through this study abroad program, I was able to explore amazing sights, history, food, hikes, and much more. I met so many amazing people on this trip, and had the pleasure of immersing myself into Italian culture. I am so grateful for this opportunity, and cannot wait to travel again!”
