Five Tips Before Studying Abroad | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Politics and Activism

Five Tips Before Studying Abroad

31
Five Tips Before Studying Abroad

I recently had the chance to study abroad in London. It was an amazing experience to say the least. I would recommend this opportunity to any college student; it isn’t something that should be passed up. With that being said, I figured I’d share some of the things I did prior to leaving, as well as some of the things I gathered while abroad.

1. When you’re looking for a program to enroll in, make sure you do some research on the area you will be visiting. Unfortunately, we live in a world where violence and terrorism seems to be prevalent in our day-to-day lives. Normally of course your school is not going to send you to a place where your life would be put in danger, but checking out the news and events in your host country can’t hurt. Also, learn the areas that are safe and welcoming vs. the ones that are considered dangerous and should be avoided. There are websites you can visit that point these areas out and give you actual listings of unsafe areas. Tripadvisor for one has a link you can go to that lists the most safe and unsafe places in each country. After all, safety should come first.

2. DON’T be a slacker! I cannot emphasize this enough. There are often times when most of your assignments are given to you weeks before you actually leave. So please make sure you’re work is completed before your flight leaves the ground. Here’s why: once you arrive at your destination the last thing you want to do is schoolwork. It’s hard to concentrate on anything except where to go next, and what to see. You don’t want to be stuck in your room doing work while everyone else is sightseeing, going to museums, and let us not forget the pubs/bars. (Apparently in Europe as long as your elbows reach the bar you can drink.) As you can assume, this is where I spent a good portion of my time “reflecting” on my days.

3. Money can be an issue for some people when studying abroad. Even if you can afford the cost of tuition there is still a need for spending money. Budget your spending money and spend wisely. It’s so easy to get carried away. Make sure you check out and understand the exchange rates before you start blowing money in the gift shops. The price you see on the tag is not what you’ll pay in American dollars. This price usually doubles. Souvenirs and other gifts are a great way to remember your trip, but make sure you save enough money for the essentials such as food. Rick Steves has a great website on using ATMs in Europe. One last tip; make sure you get rid of all your coins. Don’t wait until the last day and be stuck with a bag full weighing you down at the airport.

4. A question many people have before studying abroad is, “What about cell phone service?” There are of course cell phone plans that can be purchased so you have international coverage, but this can sometimes get pricey and I only recommend this for people who need to stay in constant contact with family. Twitter and Instagram can wait. The other option would be to utilize all of the WiFi hotspots. Yes, this does mean you can’t instantly upload your new beautifully filtered photo for all your followers to see, but if you are patient enough, there is usually a WiFi hotspot within walking distance from almost anywhere (at least that’s how it was in London). So, if you don’t need constant cell service, I recommend just using WiFi. This will save you money and it will save you from having your face in your phone while walking past Big Ben, the Vatican, or the Eifel Tower.

5. My last tip for you is the simplest: ENJOY YOURSELF. Studying abroad is possibly a once in a lifetime experience and it will be over quicker than you hoped. Take as many pictures as you can, but don’t get lost behind the camera lenses. I can almost guarantee that when you are boarding your plane to return home you will be thinking to yourself, “ Wow, I really wish I had more time here.” Whether you are abroad for two weeks or two months, it is never enough time to do everything you had hoped.

So there you have it, a few tips to think about before you study abroad. Most of these tips come from personal experience, so take my word for it. If you are definitely studying abroad soon I hope you enjoy your trip as much as I enjoyed mine, and if you weren’t sure if you were going to study abroad before reading this, I hope I helped persuade you into making the right choice to explore the world.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Lifestyle

11 Confessions Of A Sleep-A-Holic

If your plans get cancelled, there is a 99.9% percent chance you are sleeping.

670
woman lying on bed
Photo by Kinga Howard on Unsplash

1. What are some of your hobbies? Does sleep count?

I'm so good at sleeping I can do it with my eyes closed

Keep Reading...Show less
one tree hill
Wikipedia Commons

If you need a new series to watch, I recommend One Tree Hill. I watched this series three times now and it only keeps getting better. If you need any more reasons beside the fact that all of the seasons are on Netflix for your binge-watching pleasure, here are seven more reasons to watch it.

Keep Reading...Show less
University of Mount Olive
University of Mount Olive

College is the most exciting time of a person's life. It really is. Exciting is not always a positive feeling though. Excited is a feeling that can be associated with nervousness, anxiety and more. Here are some real tips for college freshman that go beyond the typical, "Go to class," lecture.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

The 5 Pros and Cons Of Long Distance Friendships

Being friends with someone thousands of miles away has its drawbacks and perks.

1455
friends on the beach

True friendship is incredibly rare, and to find a friend that will be there for you through all of life's curveballs is something quite unique. To add distance into the equation, maintaining a real, true friendship can be a struggle. There are good and bad parts that come with long distance friendship.

Keep Reading...Show less
high school girls
Tori Horne

Friendship. It's defined as the state of being attached to another person by feelings of affection or personal regard, but what really is friendship? Is it that occasional hallway talk with that one person who always manages to cheer you up? Is it that relationship you have with someone where they can be gone for a long period of time, but when they come back, it's like they never left? Is it spending every waking hour with someone, and knowing every detail about their life? Is it the relationship that's filled with fighting, but filled with even more resolution? I've learned that it's all of these things, and every friendship is different. It's a beautifully dysfunctional mess that should always be cherished and never be taken for granted.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments