<p>I'd love to live and study in another country. On the other hand, the program has little to do with my present career goals. There are certainly other programs out there that would offer relevant courses, but if I study abroad, I think I want an immersive experience which would include taking classes in the history, etc. of the country. </p>
<p>Because I'd like to go to graduate school eventually, the two main disadvantages of studying abroad would be forgoing time that could be spent building relationships with professors in my department, as well as forgoing the opportunity to raise my college GPA, which is incredibly close to meeting phi beta kappa requirements. I attend a prestigious college in the U.S. and I don't know how graduate programs will view my spending a semester abroad vs staying at my home institution all four years. Any thoughts? I know there is much to be gained from studying abroad (namely intangible benefits), but I'm torn in having to choose between furthering my academic/career goals and having a great experience abroad.</p>
<p>It sounds to me like studying abroad might be a bad idea for you. Why not work hard in college, then spend a year abroad between college and grad school?</p>
<p>Thanks! Any other thoughts on this? I have to decide by the 15th so I’m thinking hard…</p>
<p>Honestly, if I were an employer, I’d be much more impressed by someone backpacking through Asia or Africa for a summer than some lame study abroad program. (There are non-lame ones too, but they are the minority.)</p>
<p>Have you travelled abroad? My daughter spent a semester in Japan when she was 15 and it changed her life forever. She starts university this fall in London, studying Japanese and Korean, and plans to move to Asia when she graduates all because of that six months in Japan. I never left the USA until I was an adult. My kids have been around the world. If you have a yearning to leave the country, do it. The consequences will only be positive.</p>
<p>^ I’m slightly dubious about employers self-reported interest in study abroad students.</p>
<p>Here’s another pov: [Study</a> Abroad’s New Focus Is Job Skills - Global - The Chronicle of Higher Education](<a href=“Study Abroad’s New Focus Is Job Skills”>Study Abroad’s New Focus Is Job Skills)</p>
<p>time that could be spent building relationships with professors in my department…raise my college GPA, which is incredibly close to meeting phi beta kappa requirements.</p>
<p>Sounds like you already know what you need to do. The suggestion about staying at your University & then taking a year off between graduating & applying for grad school sounds like the best choice for you at this time. </p>
<p>This way, it’s the best of both worlds, you are only delaying your future global experience.</p>
<p>All I can say is studying abroad shows how strong you are in going outside your comfort zone. Learning about a new culture and language other than your own. It’s a very impressive thing to have when applying for jobs or colleges. You learn a lot when you go abroad. I’m studying in the Philippines right now having studied for 3 years in the US. I decided to the Philippines…wasn’t part of any program or anything. All I can say is, you learn a lot from going outside your own country. My college plans didn’t go as expected (ended up changing my major) but it’s been quite an adventure so far.</p>
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<p>It would be nice if it were true, but employers and colleges don’t seem to care.</p>
<p>I would be very impressed with a student who direct enrolled in a foreign university for their entire degree. There are a lot of Americans who do that… loads at St Andrew’s for example who are there for their entire degree.</p>
<p>But that’s pretty different to a semester or 2 overseas with an organized handholding programme.</p>
<p>I would go abroad for the whole graduate degree after completing my college at home.</p>
<p>I can understand the predicament you are going through right now. I think that you will have the time of your life studying abroad, and that your career will still be there after. Graduate schools won’t look at studying abroad poorly, especially if you mention unique parts of the program in your interviews or applications, then they will know whether you went there to party or advance your personal and educational development. You really only have one chance to study abroad. However, you aren’t only limited to studying abroad during the school year. There are summer programs as well as career-focused jobs overseas that combine the two. Where exactly do you want to go? You can find independent organizations that administer international internships or volunteer programs, and often times have an [international</a> scholarship program](<a href=“http://www.connect-123.com/about/scholarships/]international”>Scholarships | Connect-123). All in all, this is a very overwhelming spot but you really can’t go wrong with your decision. Hope this helps and enjoy your time!</p>