1. To see and do incredible things

When I studied abroad, I got to see and do the most incredible things. When I was in Austria, I had the opportunity to see the Austrian Alps and go down into a salt mine. In Germany, I visited the remains of the Berlin Wall, saw Allianz Arena, the home of FC Bayern Munich, and visited many biergartens, or outside bars.

When I went on a weekend trip to Rome, I got to listen to the Pope, which was absolutely amazing, and see the Colosseum and the Trevi Fountain. When I was in the Netherlands, I went to a neighborhood concert in Eindhoven with hundreds of drunk Dutch people and I walked past the Red Light District in Amsterdam.

All of these experiences were truly once in a lifetime experiences that I would never have had the opportunity to see if I had not studied abroad.

2. Meet amazing people from your university and from your host country

When you study abroad, you spend a lot of time with your study abroad group. You may live with one or two of them with your host family, and if there is a language barrier, then you may spend way more time with your fellow students than your host family. You’ll go out with your group, attend many meals with them, and may travel with them on the weekends to neighboring cities and countries.

If I had not studied abroad, I would not have met so many amazing people from within my major and at my university. Also, I met so many interesting people in my home country. Engaging with people from your host country is quite important because they can teach you about the culture and help with any language questions you may have.

3. Get college credit for going on an adventure

This is a no-brainer great reason to study abroad. I received six hours of course credit for studying abroad, both applicable to my credits within my major. Also, the work in a study abroad course is not as intensive or difficult as the work you would normally complete in a course at your university.

4. Gain confidence and experience

Traveling abroad is very exhilarating, but it is also stressful and sometimes scary. You may not be familiar with the language, and you are obviously not accustomed to the area.

Traveling abroad forces you to get out of your comfort zone and learn to rely on yourself. Traveling and studying abroad allowed me to gain more confidence and to see myself as a capable traveler.

5. Expose yourself to new cultures and ways of life

Studying abroad exposes you to new cultures that you may be unfamiliar with. By exposing yourself to new cultures, new places, and new languages, you may find yourself wanting to pursue a different career path or choosing a different place to live after graduation. As a result of my time abroad, I now want to live abroad and teach English.