4 Common Myths About Studying Abroad Debunked

By Elana Goodwin on September 27, 2016

For the last several years, the number of college students from the U.S. studying abroad has been on the rise, with more and more students choosing to spend a semester or year abroad.

Even with that increase in numbers, there are still a lot of misconceptions out there about studying abroad that may be influencing students considering study abroad. Here are some common myths about studying abroad, debunked.

Pisa, Italy
Photo Credit: Elana Goodwin

1. Myth: Studying Abroad Is Too Expensive. While the cost of studying abroad will be affected by what college you attend, whether you study abroad through your school or an outside organization, where you’re planning to study abroad and the type of program you’ll be in there, how long you want to study abroad for, and how far in advance you start to plan your abroad experience, studying abroad in college can actually be affordable.

At some schools, a semester abroad will actually cost exactly the same as if you’d stayed on campus, in terms of tuition and board. Of course, other expenses may be more than if you’d stayed home, such as food, housing, and various documentation.

In truth, some study abroad programs, especially those in countries that are developing and eager to have students come study abroad in them, may actually be less expensive than if you’d stayed at your stateside college for whatever length of time you’re studying abroad for. Plus, your financial aid package through your school is typically transferable or applicable to study abroad expenses, as long as your college will accept your study abroad credits.

Additionally, there are hundreds of different study abroad scholarships available, both across the country and through your university, ranging from merit to need to program-specific. It’s usually pretty simple to apply for these scholarships, especially the ones through your university, if you plan ahead and know where and when you want to study abroad and what the deadlines are for all your paperwork.

2. Myth: Studying Abroad Is All Fun, Parties and Travel. Study abroad is about much more than having fun and traveling around, no matter what your friends’ social media posts from studying abroad seem to depict — and knowing this may help you sell your parents on this venture. In reality, studying abroad is, obviously, about studying, as well as learning more about your host country and culture, discovering yourself, becoming independent, and gaining other valuable skills.

That being said, if you go into your study abroad thinking it’s one big vacation and approach it as such, you won’t get out of it nearly as much as you would if you take it more seriously and really look at it as an opportunity to expand your horizons and grow as a person. No matter where you are or what program you’re in, studying abroad should be fun, but it shouldn’t just be about fun. Not only will your study abroad classes and credits affect your academic career, but the connections you make and lessons you learn will stay with you long after your time abroad is over.

3. Myth: Studying Abroad Doesn’t Pay Off. Another common myth is that jumping through hoops and carefully planning your study abroad experience doesn’t really pay off in the long run. Sure, it may be fun to go to another country and take classes for a semester or year, but are there really any bigger benefits to be gained from study abroad? In truth, yes. More and more employers want employees who have broader global experience and speak another language fluently, both things study abroad can help you with.

Additionally, having connections and a network of contacts from in a range of jobs and countries will allow you to more easily collaborate and converse with others around the world — and you’ll meet all sorts of people from all over on any study abroad experience you embark on. So not only will study abroad be a great experience in the short-term, but it’ll also make you more marketable, well-rounded, and hirable for jobs in the future.

4. Myth: Studying Abroad Makes It Hard To Graduate On Time. Studying abroad shouldn’t delay your graduation date — even if you take a semester or year to study abroad, it should be very possible for you to finish school in four years. Of course, your graduating on-time depends entirely on how much you planned ahead and how well you planned your study abroad experience. If you chose classes abroad and made sure your credits would transfer and/or fulfill needed requirements, there shouldn’t be any issue with graduation being pushed off.

In fact, study abroad students often come back to their colleges with a renewed passion for learning and more interest in their academics. If your major is going to make studying abroad more difficult, you can always look into study abroad opportunities offered in the winter or summer terms so you don’t have to spend fall or spring semesters away from campus.

Studying abroad is a great way for students to get to see part of the world, gain a new perspective, and learn — so don’t let these common myths deter you from considering a study abroad experience because they’re untrue, and now that they’re debunked for you.

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