5 Reasons Why You Should Study Abroad

By Kait Spong

Take the first step in competing in the job market by uncovering the benefits of studying abroad. For the adventurous learner, studying abroad serves as a gateway to exploring the world and acquiring new experiences. While the quest for profound life experiences can appeal to just about anyone, the cultural discoveries, the academic benefits, and the development of one’s skills cannot be underestimated part of this experience either.

Over the past ten years, the number of students seeking opportunities to pursue advanced degrees abroad has continued to expand. Studying in a foreign land is indeed a life-changing decision for students attempting to gain professional and personal growth, but in most cases, it’s completely worth it.

With this in mind, uCribs has composed a blog of the top 5 benefits of earning a degree abroad! Can you feel the excitement already creeping in your chest as you consider all of the opportunities at now at your disposal? We sure can!

Develop Yourself as a Person

Studying in a foreign country translates to a whole lot of independence, which is a surefire way to not only discover who you are, but also your ability to embrace diversity. If you decide to take the leap, you will have the opportunity to explore uncharted territories, networking with people from different cultural and ethnic backgrounds.

But studying overseas is not just about meeting new people and expanding your social network; it’s about indulging in a new way of living that is completely unprecedented to you personally– one that is fresh and exciting. In interacting with a new culture, you will gain an understanding of how you can best fit into an environment that is entirely new to you, developing your maturity and understanding of the world around you.

Expand Upon Your Life Experience

Traveling overseas can transform your limited perception of the world in unlimited and unimaginable ways, helping you gain a better understanding of how your native country plays its part in international affairs.  By immersing yourself in a new culture, you will learn the significance of maintaining your own customs and traditions while discovering better ways to adapt to those around you who might be a little different from yourself.

Although adjusting to another culture and a different way of life can be overwhelming, do not let this discourage you from studying abroad. By quickly immersing yourself into a new environment, you can also develop a little resilience and self-reliance—traits necessary to any adult. As soon as the culture shock dissipates, and you learn the ropes of your daily routine, you will undoubtedly develop more self-confidence due to your consistent perseverance during this new yet exciting experience.

Grow Your Social Network

In addition to expanding your cultural horizons, growing social and personal networks is another common reason why many students want to study overseas. By collaborating with students from other parts of the globe, you have a once in a lifetime opportunity to connect with a new, diverse group of people that you would have otherwise never met in your lifetime.

Establishing good relationships with others, particularly with professors, is just as valuable because they can become solid mentors throughout your educational experience abroad. Their expertise can be an excellent asset to your studies, profession, and overall experience in their country.

Improve Your Communication Skills

Engaging in a new environment by studying abroad is an excellent chance to develop one’s communication skills. The only way to learn a new language is to immerse oneself in it—but don’t be shy! Everyone has to start somewhere when it comes to grasping the basic fundamentals such as vocabulary and grammar. Of course, the person you’re communicating with will not always understand what you’re saying from the get-go, but again, it’s all part of the experience of communicating more effectively with those outside your social circle, which is beneficial in any career-oriented scenario.

Studying overseas also gives you the opportunity to enroll in a language program, which many universities overseas offer to U.S. students. To practice, you should always opt to engage in said language with peers, locals, and perhaps even the family you’re staying with because there’s no better practice than engaging in the language with its native and experienced speakers.

Boost Future Employment Opportunities

Most importantly of all, studying overseas offers massive benefits for building your resume to its full potential, helping your inch your way closer to securing your dream job. In today’s highly competitive world, studying abroad can allow you to stand out above the crowd of resumes that fly into any open job posting. You could also potentially gain work experience in your career field by taking on part-time work or completing g an internship.

With these 5 perks of studying abroad at the forefront of your mind, you can begin your search for overseas universities! It’s best to start at your college’s administrative office to see what programs are available to someone within your major. From there, don’t be afraid to explore the curriculum offerings to determine which one would benefit you the most. Finally, take a trip over to the financial aid office on campus to see what grants or scholarships may be available if you do decide to take the plunge!

It is as simple as a little research and maybe a few trips to various campus offices—but once you get all the logistics out of the way, you’ll be a step closer to studying abroad!

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