College Tips - Should You Study Abroad

College Tips - Should You Study
Abroad?
Most schools right now have several study abroad opportunities. These opportunities can sound
fantastic, but what if studying abroad isn't right for you? Well, studying abroad is pretty much one of the
best things that you can do during your college career, but this doesn't mean that you should necessarily
do it. There are lots of different things to consider, including the type of program you're looking at, the
way it will suit your major or class requirements, how much it costs, and how well you'll handle being
away from home and school.
There are literally hundreds of different study abroad programs available right now. Some of them are
focused on experiential learning and community service, and others are focused on simply studying in a
foreign country. Some are for a semester, and some are for a year. Others are just short stints over
spring break or the holidays in between semesters, too. Besides this, study abroad programs are
available for just about every country in the world - at least the ones that are considered fairly safe for
American college students to be in.
Before you apply for a Study Loans for Abroad program, look at it really hard to decide whether or not it
would be a good program for you. If you want to really experience a new culture, you might want a
program where you stay with a host family, but if you simply want to meet other students, you could
choose to live in a dorm or with your fellow Americans while taking classes with students from another
country. Each study abroad experience will be totally unique, and you need to decide which programs
will best suit you before you fill out any applications.
You'll also have to check out exactly how the study abroad program will fit your course requirements. If
you don't mind taking a semester off track and tacking an extra one onto your senior year, this won't
matter as much. If you're determined to graduate in your four-year limit, on the other hand, you'll want
to look at the program credits with a discerning eye. If you have questions, you can always talk to your
advisor, too. Sometimes a class that doesn't seem like it will meet a certain requirement can be pushed
into that slot if you talk to the people in the registrar's office.
It's tempting to totally forget the cost of a study abroad experience when you're preparing for it. After
all, you might think that your student loans will cover it. This isn't always the case, though. If for nothing
other than plane tickets and administrative costs, study abroad experiences are usually more expensive
than stay-at-home semesters. You may not get enough government financial aid to cover the semester,
which means taking out a private - and higher interest - student loan. Studying abroad may be one of
the greatest experiences you can have, but it's probably not worth paying for until you're forty.
Even though you may think that spending three months away from both home and school will be a great
idea, it can be pretty difficult. Most people who study abroad have such a great time that it flies by, but
if you tend to pine for home and people you know, you may have trouble adjusting. This isn't really a
reason not to study abroad, since the experience can help relieve you of some of your homesickness,
but it is something to consider. Before you decide to go, talk to other students who have been on study
abroad programs to see how they communicated with home and dealt with homesickness; their advice
can help give you some great ideas for your time away.
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