Studying Abroad: Pros & Cons, Tips, and More!

Thinking about doing a semester or year abroad? Let’s see what our fellow junior camels had to say about their current experiences abroad in England, Italy, and New Zealand!

What are the pros and cons of studying abroad?
Marisa Barnard: For me, there were definitely more pros than cons.  When you study abroad, you have the opportunity to earn about a different culture, perhaps learn a new language, meet new people, have the opportunity to travel, study new or different subjects, etc.  One con is that you will most likely get homesick at some point.  

Rachel Jerome:
PROS — Studying abroad is an amazing experience because I have been able to live in a great city and really experience how people in London live and their culture. I also get the opportunity to travel and see a lot of historic, interesting places. I have met so many awesome people and I feel like I have also learned a lot about myself and learned how to adjust to new cultures and settings.
CONS — I really do miss my friends! I’ve met some awesome people abroad and luckily my fellow HC girl Chloe was in London with me, but I miss my friends from good old Conn. Another thing is that it is really expensive, but I have learned to work with a budget, so its all part of the learning experience. 

Rachel in Barcelona, Spain!

Laura Sanderson: There are literally no cons and the pros are endless. Studying abroad is a time where you are thrown into an environment that is completely new to you. You not only are constantly meeting new people and visiting new places but you learn so much about yourself. It is unlike college orientation where everything is awkward and no one wants to be there. Study abroad is amazing because everyone has a similar mind set and everyone is wanting to get to know you. I know it sounds cheesy but if you do study abroad right and don’t just do bar crawl after bar crawl, you end up really growing up!

What has been your best experience so far?
Marisa Barnard: That’s a hard question because I’ve had so many great experiences. I would have to say traveling in general. By the end of my abroad experience I will have traveled to 7 different countries and all around Italy.  

Marisa in Italy!

Rachel Jerome: I really have enjoyed the day-to-day activities of living in London. It’s so cool that after school I can just hop on the Tube (the subway system here) to Buckingham Palace or go get tea or something. I’ve also loved traveling– I went to Paris for the weekend and I had the best time! 

Laura Sanderson: My best experiences are the traveling I have done around New Zealand with my friends here! One of the best trips so far was hiking around Mt. Doom and doing the Tangariro Crossing. The emerald lakes were stunning. Another great experience was exploring the Bay of Islands on a sail boat and being able to snorkel and see dolphins swimming all around our boat!

What advice can you give for people thinking about studying abroad?
Marisa Barnard: Plan ahead and start thinking about studying abroad early. Also, Visas are annoying. If you’re interested in studying abroad in Milan, Italy, contact me! 

Rachel Jerome: Be open to everything and everyone. It is scary at times and I didn’t think I would miss home, but I did at times, but don’t let the small negatives take over the amazing opportunities. 

Laura Sanderson: Pick somewhere that you don’t think you’ll have the opportunity to go to ever again. If you are studying abroad to simply get drunk every night and be crazy- my advice is stay on campus back in the states. Blacking out and bar crawls are not what study abroad is about. It’s about meeting new friends and experiencing new things, not blacking out what you did last night. I picked New Zealand because it was a place I did not see myself being able to go to ever again. It was also an area that the social life thrives around outdoor adventure, not alcohol.

Laura in New Zealand!

What is something you wish you brought from home? 

Marisa Barnard: My cats!
Rachel Jerome: Hmm, well I was a pretty solid packer, but I do miss bagels. 
Laura Sanderson: My stuffed animal.

Chloe & Rachel at Hampton Court Palace in London, England!

Whether you’re just starting to think about study abroad or you’ve already made plans, hopefully this blog got you excited about traveling. Also If you’re thinking about doing some traveling this summer, here are some great travel sites. 

1) Relatively inexpensive tours for college students: http://www.efcollegebreak.com/

2)  Couchsurfing is a website where you can find local inhabitants of where you go to host you for free: https://www.couchsurfing.org

3)  Find cheap student flights here: http://www.studentuniverse.com/ 

4) Another site useful for finding inexpensive flights: http://www.skyscanner.net/ 

5) Great travel tours for students: http://www.statravel.com/ 

6) Travel through Europe by train: http://www.eurail.com/

7) TripAdvisor offers great flight prices and hotels: http://www.tripadvisor.com/

8) Find specific study abroad programs, internships, summer programs, work, and more: http://www.studyabroad.com/