Studying abroad is one of the most rewarding things you can do. For Americans, it's a chance to experience other cultures and learn other languages. You'll get to meet people, view historical sites, and participate in another way of life. The right study abroad program for you will vary depending on your goals. What are you studying, and what do you want out of your educational experience? Keeping this in mind will help you access the most benefit from your choices.
Paying for the Program
Before you can determine whether a study abroad program is right for you, you'll need to have a sense of how to pay for it. Some universities have flexible payment requirements. You'll need to factor in the cost of living in the country of your choice, as well as how long the program lasts. You may be able to pay for some of a study abroad program using traditional student loans. Student loans can be used to cover the cost of tuition, school supplies, food, and transportation. They might be eligible to cover your airfare as well. If you find that your federal student loans aren't expansive enough to cover your full program, you might also take out a loan with a private lender without the need for a cosigner. This will open the door to more opportunities that you might not otherwise have had.
Seeing the World
One of the main
reasons to consider an international learning experience is that you get to see the world. You'll meet people whose life experience is very different from your own. You'll learn about international customs and activities, and you might even discover that your own customs are strange in certain contexts. You also aren't limited during your study abroad program. You might be studying in a certain European country, but you could cross the border and experience other cultures. Many European countries are smaller than some of the largest states in the US. You'll be surprised by how much you can do. There are even trains that go through multiple different countries. You can experience a huge variety of different European customs without ever even needing to switch your railway line.
Different Education
Other countries have customs that extend to education. There are different educational setups and requirements in every international country. You might learn different things about your major that you wouldn't necessarily learn by studying in the US. By getting involved in the educational setups of other countries, you get a sense for different styles of learning. You might also develop a better sense of what parts of American study work best for you, versus what parts don't. Education is an essential part of a culture. The way that people learn says a lot about how the country functions.
Learning Language
If you study in a country where the majority language is not English, you'll have a chance to learn through immersion. It's much easier to learn a foreign language when you're learning directly from its speakers. Language courses are available through many universities for students who want to learn the mother tongue of their host countries.
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