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Ariana Parquette

Mrs. Anderson

Honors American Literature

9 May 2018

The Benefits of Studying Abroad

On average, approximately 300,000 American post-secondary students study abroad per

year. In the United States, about 10% of students study abroad during their undergraduate years.

This statistic leads me to question the appeal and impediments of studying abroad. What are the

benefits of studying abroad to one’s education? A benefit commonly mentioned would be

positive career development as well as exponential personal growth. Of course, the cynical side

of me wonders if there are major disadvantages and what the disadvantages may be. As a girl

who is broke and clueless, I need to know the costs, programs and complications of studying

abroad. Although the expenses of studying abroad may be excessive, studying abroad is not only

beneficial to personal growth but also to career development and academic growth.

Studying abroad is highly beneficial to personal growth in the areas of global awareness

and leadership development. “By studying foreign cultures and languages and living abroad, we

gain a better understanding of the many similarities that we share and learn to respect our

differences. The relationships that are formed between individuals from different countries, as

part of international education programs and exchanges, can also foster goodwill that develops

into vibrant, mutually beneficial partnerships among nations,” (Bush). Bush proves international

students are typically globally and culturally aware and accepting due to their studies abroad.

Learning overseas allows one to fully understand an alternate culture that one may not
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experience if they are simply visiting the respective country. In fact, if a traveller does not speak

a particular language, they may be treated as a tourist rather than a local. Typically, tourists don’t

experience much culture and it’s harder to experience said culture with a language barrier. Even

if the student studying abroad isn’t fluent in the official language, chances are they will pick up

much of the language. In my interview with Alicia Seifert, she mentions her lack of knowledge

of French prior to her stay in France. She admits to the first few weeks being difficult in the fact

that she spent all her time trying to translate every French word to English. Eventually, she began

to fully comprehend the language and deepen the conversations between her and local French

people. Seifert even began to dream in French. Academically, students thrive after studying

abroad. “100% greater improvement in GPA post-study abroad,” (UC Merced). UC Merced

proves that academic achievement is strongly connected to academic achievement and

improvement.

As I’ve now discovered, studying abroad is an amazing experience, however this leads

me to consider the following: “What are the expenses and complications of studying abroad?

Holy guacamole, what are the major disadvantages of studying abroad other than cost?” Well,

let’s begin with the disadvantages of studying abroad. Loneliness and homesickness are

prevalent among globetrotting students (Nassaris). However, I think that is minor to the great

advantages provided in studying abroad. In my interview with Alicia Seifert, she repeatedly

recommended studying abroad. When asked about the disadvantages of studying abroad, Seifert

hesitated a moment before saying her favorite professor left after her semester in France and she

felt like she missed out on having him as her teacher again. The costs and complications of

studying abroad is obviously the major downside of studying abroad and one of the
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complications is finding a reliable foreign education program. Alicia Seifert elaborated on the

extensive amount of programs available to students such as Stanford’s Paris campus and even

non university related programs like WWOOF, a global volunteer program. I decided to look

into OSU’s study abroad program, since OSU is the only Ohio college I’m currently looking

into. At OSU, there are many ways to study abroad including direct enrollment, study abroad

groups, foreign exchange and even service work and foreign internships which can largely help

one’s career, despite beginning in a completely foreign country. OSU has a wide variety of

options OSU has for travel abroad and I’m sure that most other esteemed universities are

likewise.

Most of all, studying abroad benefits career development. " I’m a big believer in

international exchange programs. They are not just lofty-sounding programs with abstract

benefits. In a global society, international exchange programs are economically vital and

culturally invaluable,” (Duncan). Studying abroad helps one’s career development because

students who study abroad develop independence, and some companies even admit to preferring

former foreign exchange students. “97% of undergraduates who study abroad start a career

within 12 months of graduation as opposed to 49% of non study abroad students,” (UC Merced).

UC Merced proves that studying abroad escalates the progression of one’s career in a relatively

short amount of time. Along with professional skills, studying abroad fosters opportunities for

students as well as offers students a headstart in the business world.

Studying abroad is heavily beneficial to personal, academic, and career development.

There are numerous opportunities and programs for studying abroad and fewer disadvantages to

going abroad. In the world, there are millions of places to see, people to meet and cultures to
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experience. If one is constrained by their own ethnocentric beliefs, the world loses its sense of

wonder and peace can never be reached without understanding. As Alicia Seifert said, “It doesn’t

matter where you go, as long as you go.”

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Works Cited

Administrator. “Office of International Affairs - Ways to Go Abroad.” Office of

International Affairs - Funding Education Abroad, Ohio State University. 2018.

oia.osu.edu/getting-started/ways-to-go-abroad.html.

Bush, George W. “International Education week 2001 message”. United States. 13

November 2001.

Duncan, Arne. “Remarks of U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan to the Closing

Plenary of the U.S.-India Higher Education Summit”.United States, Georgetown University. 13

October, 2010.

Flaherty, Colleen. “Study Finds First-Time Enrollment in Graduate School Is up 3.5

Percent.” Esports Quickly Expanding in Colleges, Inside Hugher Ed. 17 September 2015.

www.insidehighered.com/news/2015/09/17/study-finds-first-time-enrollment-graduate-school-35

-percent​.

Nassaris, Esther. “The 10 Pros and Cons All Students Should Consider When Thinking

of Studying Abroad.” The Independent. Independent Digital News and Media, 4 Feb. 2016.

www.independent.co.uk/student/study-abroad/the-10-pros-and-cons-all-students-should-consider

-when-thinking-of-studying-abroad-a6852991.html​.

Rhodes, Gary. “Study Abroad... Now More than Ever: About This Site.” Study Abroad...

Now More Than Ever: Experience Personal Growth. ​www.globaled.us/now/about.html​.

Parquette, Ariana J. Personal Interview. 6 May 2018.

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Unknown. “What Statistics Show about Study Abroad Students.” Study Abroad. UC

Merced. 2018. Studyabroad.ucmerced.edu/study-abroad-statistics/statistics-study-abroad.