I’m considering doing a semester abroad, and I was wondering what you all thought were the most important things to look out for? Should I be worried about housing, travel, school, safety in an unfamiliar place? Also, how much help do students usually get from the universities or abroad programs? Thanks!
It really depends on you and your personality.
I’m an American student that studied abroad in North Africa last semester and I didn’t have any issues with culture shock or safety. I actually felt safer in my host country than in the city I currently study at in the United States.
If you’re worried about housing, travel, school, and safety here are a few things I suggest.
Housing
In some countries it is the students’ responsibility to find housing, not the school’s. So make sure you check your host university’s policy on housing before you apply. That way if your school doesn’t have dorms, you’ll have an apartment waiting for you when you arrive. If you will be getting a dorm make sure you understand the regulations involved with student housing and any important housing deadlines. One of my friends from Europe constantly complains that too many students don’t look up housing policies and arrive in her home country expecting a dorm. Only to realize that the university doesn’t provide housing and they get upset because they have to stay at a hostel for a month or longer.
School
Try contacting students who have previously gone there. It’ll help you understand how classes run and the overall vibe of the campus. Read the class catalogue to make sure that they have all the classes you need and understand you may not get all of them so make sure you have a backup plan if you don’t get your first pick. Also, check to see if there any clubs you are interested in. Traveling is fun, but it is also nice to get to know people on your campus. And remember to get all your assignments done early and during the weekday. That way you’ll be able to enjoy your weekends with friends or getting to know your host country without worrying about homework.
Travel & Safety
This depends a lot on the country you’re going to. For example, I went to a country where things are relatively cheap compared to the United States and transportation was easily accessible. So this allowed me to easily travel around the country and even to other countries without too much worry over finances. However, for students studying abroad in my university, it is much more complicated. The campus is isolated, taxis are rare, city transportation is limited and expensive, and we’re far from any major city. So you can’t really spend your weekends traveling.
So make sure that the places you are going to actually have reliable transportation that fits your budget if travel is something you really want to do. This is also where currency exchange comes into play. Is your home country’s currency worth more or less than your host country’s?
As for safety, research your country carefully. Is it a fairly safe country? Is the city where your host university is located in safe? Is there anything about the culture that could potentially make you a target?
Before I studied abroad I made sure my host country was safe. And when I researched the city I was staying at I quickly realized it was probably the safest in the entire country.
Unfortunately, race also places a role into this. Some countries have neo-Nazi groups that can get violent and other countries have intense rivalries with others. So if you are of a certain ethnicity, it can play a role on safety. So look into that carefully.
Financial Aid
It really varies a lot on school. So I would suggest scheduling an appoint with a counselor or financial aid advisor. Also look into country specific scholarships and scholarships for pell grant students. There’s usually quite a bit out there.