Asking yourself why you should study abroad? The better question is "Why not?" There are too many positives to name them all, but if you really need to know what kinds of potentially life-changing opportunities await you, we'll give it the old college try...
1. Traveling Rocks.
To get the most out of life, sometimes you need to get away from it all. Very far away, in fact. And with option that could range from Aix-en-Provence to Barcelona, Managua to Galway, Florence to Brisbane, and beyond, chances are you'll find the far-off adventure you crave, and an experience that will make you say, "Studying abroad changed my life!"
2. Serious Academics, and Serious Fun...Seriously
While studying abroad might sound like vacation, you'll cover—you guessed it—serious academic ground during your experience. You'll immerse yourself in another language, and learn on your feet to accomplish event the most ordinary tasks. And, in many cases, you'll find courses for your major that you can't take when you're stateside. "Chemistry and Biochemistry of Wine Production" in France, anyone?
3. You'll Earn College Credit.
See? This is where covering that serious academic ground pays off. You may need to plan ahead, and double check that the courses you choose will transfer back to your home school, but usually you'll find coursework that gives you both comparable credit hours and an enhanced college experience.
4. Intern(ational) Experience.
An internship abroad? Just think of the possibilities: your morning commute could take you across Florence’s Ponte Vecchio. Your work day could teach you to write amazing press releases and immerse you in real day-to-day life of the international community you choose to join. And when you return to the States, you’ll not only be soaring toward graduation with your internship’s credit hours, you’ll be flying high with a sense of independence you can only find by establishing yourself in unfamiliar settings.
5. Employers Take Notice.
Only 10% of U.S. students choose to study abroad, so having that experience on your resume can set you apart when applying for jobs. According to the QS Global Employer Survey Report, 6 out of 10 employers globally go “Ooh-la-la!” over international student experience, and over 80% actively seek graduates who studied abroad. So take the leap! It can be a major selling point in your interviews.
6. For the Food.
Sure, you can eat out any time at home, but those dining experiences fall way short of the culinary experience of eating in a foreign country. Studying abroad, your senses will work overtime to take in the new sights, new smells, new tastes. Having lots of “YUM” moments (and maybe even a few “WHAT-IS-THAT???” reactions) is all part of the adventure. If you live with the locals, you might even get to try recipes that have been passed down for generations.
7. For the Friends.
One little-known fact about the program at Fairfield is that your friends from other universities are welcome to come along on the same study abroad programs that you choose. Meet your high school teammate at the local fútbol match. Or share a meal in Galway with your buddy from home. And take some time to make new friends too. We promise: You’ll meet other students from all over the world, follow each other’s Instas, and be planning to visit each other’s home countries in No. Time. Flat.
8. And All for the Price of a Plane Ticket.
Look at it this way: Your college years might be the ONLY time you will be able to spend months in a foreign country for the about same cost as staying home. In most cases, the tuition you are already paying will apply to your study abroad program, while room and board fees are either transferrable or comparable. Scholarships and financial aid usually transfer too. Once you graduate you’ll have a job, an apartment, car payments…. Adulting might make travel just a little bit harder. So what are you waiting for? Seize the day!
If this sounds like the adventure of a lifetime, then check out Fairfield University's Study Abroad program. We've been developing our programming for over 30 years, and currently offer seven Fairfield University Centers abroad. Each of these programs offers credits and grades with coursework that compliments and supplements Stags' majors and minors (and that's before all the opportunities students have to be engaged beyond the classroom too). For more information on a college experience with a global perspective, read more about our Study Abroad program today.
