Many college students jump at the chance to study abroad. For some, doing a semester abroad in a foreign country is as traditional a college experience as living in dorms or making long-life friends. While there are many exciting cultural and social benefits to studying abroad, there are also a few potential drawbacks. If you’re a student or parent looking into study abroad programs, here are some things to consider before planning the trip:

The Advantages to Studying Abroad 

The main attraction to studying abroad is getting to visit another country. For many young adults, study abroad programs offer them their first chance to travel internationally. Experiencing another culture first hand is a fantastic educational opportunity, which serves to advance a young student’s intellect and widen their perspective.

Studying abroad gives students the chance to learn outside of the confines of lecture halls or limitations of textbooks. Getting to immerse yourself in something you’ve only previously read or heard about adds a deeper dimension to your understanding of it. When a theater major watches a Shakespeare play at the historic Globe Theatre in London or a fine art student looks up at the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City, they are experiencing something that will have a major influence on their craft.

For those looking to sharpen their foreign language skills or better comprehend world history, studying abroad can be a great asset to their education. Whether it’s studying Spanish in a Latin American country or learning about China’s industrialization in Beijing, studying abroad can have a profound effect on their knowledge.

In addition to sightseeing and receiving an enhanced educational experience, students who do a semester or yearlong study abroad program can gain vital social skills. The challenges of interacting with a different cultural group and meeting new people on a daily basis has the potential to make students more adept at public speaking and networking, as well as making them more tolerant of others.

The Disadvantages to Studying Abroad 

Despite all its positive potential, studying abroad comes with potential problems, too. Some study abroad arrangements work more like vacations than they do as learning programs. If a program lacks strong leadership from its educators/professors or doesn’t enforce a study schedule, then students are likely to fall behind on their scholarly work or indulge in non-educational activities.

While it’s beneficial for students to experience unconventional educational experiences, young students still require discipline and direction. Outside of their college environment and routine, students may take advantage of their new freedom and foreign setting in ways that are detrimental. Some students spend too much time sightseeing or fraternizing with others in their program rather than trying to learn new concepts. Instead of spending a semester expanding their intellect, students may just act as if they are on an extended break.

Besides falling behind on their studies due to excessive partying, many students studying abroad run the risk of becoming victims of crime or even breaking the law themselves. Like tourists, students visiting foreign countries are easy targets for criminals looking to steal money or abuse others. It’s hard to guarantee a safe housing situation when signing up for a study abroad program. Regardless of the program, students who are ignorant about a country’s customs or laws may get themselves into trouble with law enforcement or the locals.

The overall educational quality and advantages of studying abroad depend on both the individual student and the structure of the program. An immature or disrespectful student is likely to lose out on the intellectual and cultural potential of a good study abroad program, just as a bad program is likely to fail an eager and hardworking student. Either way, it’s up to every individual college student to consider what they want out of their time abroad and to find the right program for themselves. Talking to former study abroad students and to an academic advisor are good places to start when planning for studying abroad.

_____________________

Javaher Nooryani is a writer and editor based in Denver, CO. She has a BA in American Literature & Culture from UCLA and a Masters in English & American Literature from NYU. As a former private tutor and college prep advisor, Javaher is passionate about higher education and is happy to share her knowledge on CollegeFocus, a website that helps students deal with the challenges of college.