Important Tips For Considering Studying Abroad: Why You Should Just Do It!

Important Tips For Considering Studying Abroad: Why You Should Just Do It! 

Having the opportunity to study abroad is amazing, and to anyone considering it, you should just do it! I have just arrived in my host country of Germany, my program starts tomorrow and I cannot wait. I’ve heard nothing but good things from people who have studied abroad, but it does require a lot of planning and research before you even leave. It’s essential to prepare carefully to ensure your experience is both enjoyable and enriching. Whether you’re planning to study in Europe, Asia, or Latin America, here are some important things to keep in mind. 

Research Your Location

Safety and comfort matters! When choosing where to study abroad it is important to research all of your options. Depending on your goals and desires for studying abroad certain locations might work better than others. For example, if you want to improve your Spanish skills, but also want to be able to travel to other countries with ease, you would probably want to go to Spain. You would be able to improve your language skills but also take the train with ease to other countries. It is also important to research the different cultures and make sure you are prepared to experience a little bit of culture shock. Also, if you are a person of color, a person with disabilities, a part of the LGBTQ+ community, or any other form of minority it is important to choose a location you feel safe in. This was very important to me when selecting what country I wanted to study abroad in. I’m a woman of color so choosing a place with minimal racism was a priority for me so I would feel safe and comfortable during my time abroad. I’m studying abroad in Freiburg, Germany this Summer and so far in my experience here I felt nothing but welcomed!

Gain Some Language Skills

Another important tip when preparing to study abroad is to make sure you try and learn at least a little bit of the language. While it can be difficult to learn a whole language before you go to your host country, I do encourage you to try and learn the language at a basic level. Key phrases such as “Hello/goodbye”, “How are you?”, or “How do you say____?” are important for your success in the country, and attempting to speak the native language will be seen as a sign of respect to the locals as well. You don’t need to take an intensive language class before you leave but I do recommend doing ten minutes of Duolingo every day before you leave! Since I decided to study abroad in Germany I’ve made an effort to practice German everyday for at least a couple of minutes. While I still only know a few phrases, I have found through previous experiences abroad that it is better to at least attempt speaking the native language. So, even if your language skills are poor, something is always better than nothing!

 Make Friends Before Arriving

 Preparing to study abroad is exciting but it also can be a stressful experience, especially if you are going to a host country without anyone you know. In my program, I know no one who is going with me, and so I have experienced some anxiety due to that. However, I have found that it is very easy to reach out to other students who are also going on your program, and make connections with each other. Even if you don’t know anyone super well going into the program it may be helpful to just have a friendly face when you get there. Many schools can provide lists of students who will be in the same country or even the same program as you and can give you contact information so you can make connections before arriving. Building relationships before the trip can help ease any feelings of homesickness or anxiety as well. Since my arrival in Freiburg I have already connected with one of the other students in the program, which has helped aleve most of my anxiety in relation to not knowing anyone in Europe. New friends can also make great travel buddies, so one thing you can do is plan your weekend trips together for when you're abroad. 

Make the Most of It

 It is important to do well in your academics while abroad, but also make sure you plan to take advantage of living in a new place and exploring. You can learn a lot from being immersed in different cultures and so I encourage you to engage with new things and explore. Anytime I have spent out of my home community I have learned so much, and I anticipate that study abroad will be the same way. So far, during my brief time in Freiburg I have gotten to see so many cool sights, and explored so much. I even found an incredibly cute place called Cafe Chloe that I plan on going back to as soon as possible. Studying abroad is a unique opportunity so make plans, say yes, and overall live your life to the fullest so you can look back on your time away fondly.