Traveling far and wide in order to study in the midst of a different culture dates back to the beginning of craftsmen. Over time, students have crossed oceans to learn about art, science, math and medicine in other parts of the globe. The benefits of such travel are vast:
1. Expanded horizons lead to personal growth for college students. Meeting people with vastly different backgrounds from yours will stretch your ability to understand and tolerate differing views and beliefs. Relationships built during foreign study tend to last lifetimes and leave doors open for future experiences. Your world view will broaden, and as a result, so will your independence and maturity.
2. You will represent your country with all that you do. College students abroad are given opportunities to extend diplomacy with every interaction they have. You'll have the opportunity to become what could be some people's first (and maybe only) dealings with an American citizen. While you'll be learning, you could also be teaching at the same time. In the process your world view will change and you'll have a unique opportunity to reflect on your value system.
3. The journey often leads to a shift in career goals. A new and broader perspective gives students a chance to reevaluate their college major before entering the workforce. What's more, up to 64% of respondents attribute their decision to attend graduate school to their time abroad.
The longer the student spends time away from their base campus, the more likely the benefits are to increase. The average length of stay over the past few decades has shortened considerably. Whereas the majority of college students used to study abroad for a full academic year, now the average stay is under ten weeks. Nonetheless, similar benefits are still reported.
Your advisor is the place to start. He or she will have the necessary applications for you and advise you about credit hours and even the possibility of financial aid funds that transfer. You have everything to gain.
1. Expanded horizons lead to personal growth for college students. Meeting people with vastly different backgrounds from yours will stretch your ability to understand and tolerate differing views and beliefs. Relationships built during foreign study tend to last lifetimes and leave doors open for future experiences. Your world view will broaden, and as a result, so will your independence and maturity.
2. You will represent your country with all that you do. College students abroad are given opportunities to extend diplomacy with every interaction they have. You'll have the opportunity to become what could be some people's first (and maybe only) dealings with an American citizen. While you'll be learning, you could also be teaching at the same time. In the process your world view will change and you'll have a unique opportunity to reflect on your value system.
3. The journey often leads to a shift in career goals. A new and broader perspective gives students a chance to reevaluate their college major before entering the workforce. What's more, up to 64% of respondents attribute their decision to attend graduate school to their time abroad.
The longer the student spends time away from their base campus, the more likely the benefits are to increase. The average length of stay over the past few decades has shortened considerably. Whereas the majority of college students used to study abroad for a full academic year, now the average stay is under ten weeks. Nonetheless, similar benefits are still reported.
Your advisor is the place to start. He or she will have the necessary applications for you and advise you about credit hours and even the possibility of financial aid funds that transfer. You have everything to gain.
About the Author:
Jim Hart has been the director of academic advising at a medium-sized university for eight years. His interests include student exchange programs, online college graduate degrees, career advising, online degrees in the sciences, and CLEP examinations.
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