<p>I'm in a debate if I really want to study abroad. I like to travel and think it would be an amazing experience and plus my campus isn't extraordinarily huge so I feel I want to be able to get as many opportunities as I can to go off to other places, explore, and meet new people.</p>
<p>My only concerns for why I might not want to go abroad are as follows
1. I heard there is a lot of paperwork and things to arrange and I don't know if the hassle is worth it all.
2. Since I'm going to a new country, I know basically nobody there. I would love to meet new people but I'm worried I'll end up in a case where I'll feel lonely or get homework being away for around four months.
3. While I'm away, there might be things going on either at home or on campus and I'm worried I'll miss something which if it happens might again make me feel more homesick.</p>
<p>So basically my options now are that I can either do a semester abroad, a summer abroad, or just none at all. I considered internships abroad but have no clue how I would go about arranging that.</p>
<p>As with most decisions one is faced with making in life, there are pros and cons. Of course your school will have requirements about whether or not you are academically eligible to apply for student abroad. Yes, it is a lot of detail and paperwork which eliminates the options for many people as there are decisions to be made, deadlines for filing paperwork, getting the programs approved by your department and so on. The pros are of course that it can be a life-changing experience and you can make lifelong friends because of that unique “shared” experience and depending on your area of study, you are exposed to so much that is relevant to your experiences… for example studying theater in London or international business in London, art/art history in France or Italy, music in Austria, studying French in France, Italian in Italy, German in Germany and so on, studying international business in Asia or in developing countries and so on.</p>
<p>Studying abroad for a semester depending on your program might involve living with a family or a dorm, living in a student apartment. You might have a lengthy commute to the campus. You have to deal with everyday living in conditions that will be different than what you are used to, you might get sick, you might be homesick but possibly none of those situations will happen. As you cannot be in two places at once, you might miss opportunities to be in productions or certain classes or sports at your home school. </p>
<p>It is a choice you make. For some people it is the best decision they ever make, for others not. Some people are not in a financial position to take advantage because there are added costs. Sometimes it might be less expensive. Some people choose to do a shorter summer program instead of a full semester, and that is another option. Some of my d’s friends did that instead of a full semester as both of my d’s chose to do. When I attended school, I didn’t want to “miss what was going on” and chose not to follow through on study abroad in Spain which I had always planned. When I toured Spain several years later, I had regrets that I had made “the wrong choice”. I strongly encouraged both my daughters to take advantage of the opportunities they had and while their choices led them to miss out on some opportunities at their home schools, neither of them had any regrets. </p>
<p>I know a lot of kids that have gone abroad - in general, none of them would cite concerns you listed. Those are really pretty minor given the opportunity. That might be an indicator of your current position on this… are you really concerned or looking for excuses to not go? Not trying to be harsh but study abroad is a significant commitment if you are looking at a semester or year. So perhaps if you have the option, a shorter trip might make more sense for you. I would also recommend you look at programs offered through your school. More than likely you will go with other students, and the programs are more likely to be structured to facilitate much of the logistics, etc. </p>
<p>Study abroad is a phenomenal experience regardless of the timing. Some people like truly going on their own - others prefer the safety net of sticking with a US-organized experience (as in the school-based trips). Figure out all of your options (including not going) and then pick the one that seems to fit best with your goals and concerns. </p>
@happyramen I definitely say go for it, it will be one of the best, most transformative experience you’ll ever have.
To touch on your concerns: 1) Don’t let paperwork bog you down, there really isn’t too much associated with it, especially with short-term programs. 2) Variety is the spice of life! You’ll make new friends in no time, especially if you do a program where students travel together in small groups. 3) Don’t let the fear of missing out on what your friends are doing at home keep you from making them all ridiculously jealous with all your amazing travel adventures!