Choosing a college is daunting task. It is a critical decision that a student has to make knowing that it will affect his future. Moreover, it is in college that one decides a career that one wants, make lifetime friendships, meet new people from diverse backgrounds and also provide an opportunity for one to discover oneself. Therefore, this is always a tough decision. It is also harder when the decision regards studying abroad.
Most students have mixed feeling about studying abroad. However, it offers an opportunity for a student to move out of his comfort zone. It provides a student with a chance to build an incredible network of friendships with people from around the world with diverse backgrounds. An international university has an ambience full of diverse students that would influence and define ones perspective of life. It provides a chance to make friends from America, Europe, Asia and other third world countries.
A student will also benefit from the diversity of the staff of one’s faculty. Professors and lecturers from around the globe with a different perspective about ones field of study enables one to grow as a competent student, with a unique thought process. Furthermore, the class ambience is mind-blowing. Most international universities have small classrooms that enhance more interactive studies. It is also interesting to note that professors are more engaged in the student life than in other local colleges. They assist students fit in and ameliorate they university experience.
The campus life of students studying abroad is a one is a life time opportunity. This is one of the best ways furthering one’s education. A student usually lives and studies in campus. This means that one’s life is more engaged to the institution than students who only studies in campus but commutes from their home. The relationship between students is also incredible. Its closeness enables students to bond and understand each other. Conversations in such institutions are extremely rich in content. This is because different people, of different background, studying different field of study, create an intellectual environment that is extremely healthy for a student.
It is vital to find out the ideal university of study before ones decides to enroll. This is because there are universities that have both local and international students while others have strictly international students. This is critical because some campuses can be depressing where international students, who are the minority, have a ‘foreigner’ tag. The ideal university is where a significant number of students are foreigners and, therefore, there is no difference.
Another critical element while studying abroad is examining the host country’s languages. It is critical that a student desiring to study abroad must be well versed with the national or official language of the host nation. This is because most transactions and logistics will involve that country’s nationals and it is critical to communicate effectively. It is worth noting that most international universities are multicultural and, therefore, the common denominator will be the host country’s language. It will be a depressing experience being in a foreign country and unable to speak in their language. It will be difficult to move around or make new friends.
When all is said and done, studying abroad offers a student an experience that can never be acquired anywhere else. It not only provides one with an ambience to purse one’s career, but also gives the student an opportunity to explore the world beyond campus, acquire literacy in multiple cultures and become informed about the world at large.
Works Cited
Stephen, Loflin E and Kaplan. Adventures Abroad: The Student's Guide to Studying Overseas. New York: Kaplan Publishing, 2007.
