Studying Abroad VS Going Abroad | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Lifestyle

Studying Abroad VS Going Abroad

The ups and downs of studying abroad and traveling abroad alone.

41
Studying Abroad VS Going Abroad
MeganEngel

There is studying abroad, and there is going abroad. Both experiences are a must for all young adults in my eyes, but they both have their own ups and downs.

It completely depends on what country you are planning on traveling to and for how long, but it is likely that studying abroad is going to cost some extra money. You are, after all, paying for college credit, and we all know how pricy that is just taking courses in our designated campuses. However, when you are contemplating on going or not you really need to keep in mind the experience and extra memories that come with it. The plus side to studying abroad is the fact that you can apply for scholarships. Yes, I know, these are tedious and sometimes you don't get them, but you have nothing to lose by applying for them so why not try?

You will have free time to go off and do your own thing in both of these situations; it's really just a matter of how much free time you want. When you study abroad there's a chance that your college is going through a travel agency. It is nice to have someone set up places to stay and places to go, but sometimes they will book the most expensive hotels, restaurants, and touristic places. Sometimes you will pay one, set price and may never know where all your money was going to. The set price may keep you from spending too much because when you travel alone the shopping, drinks, and meals can add up all too quickly. When you are in charge of your own bookings you can search for the cheapest places and look up more of the local things to do. It is even better when you go abroad and have a friend that is native to the country because then you will really get a taste of the local life. You may not always have something set to do, but not having a plan can be just as, if not more, exciting.

By studying abroad with a student group you will be forced to become friends with everyone on your trip; especially if you come into it not knowing another soul. You'll be the only ones in the area trying to find your way home by using maps when you can connect to stores' wi-fi, and the best thing is you guys can totally bond over those horrible, terrifying experiences. I was one of the youngest students on my first study abroad experience, and I now have several upperclassmen friends that I know I can reach out to for mentoring or help with future projects or just to hangout. I can come back to college in a couple of months knowing several more friendly faces including two professors.

Traveling anywhere in large groups is always more difficult, but imagine traveling in a large group in a foreign country. Other countries have their own customs of dressing, talking, and even walking. No matter how hard you try to fit in all eyes will be on you because it's not normal to walk around a city in large groups. On the bright side, people tend to be nicer to you when you ask for help because they know you are tourists. When you travel alone you'll find it easier to blend in, and to me it is extremely fun to fully immerse yourself and pretend to be a local.

Studying abroad is going to bring you some sort of educational benefit, but the amount of growth and life changing experiences you gain traveling abroad alone is just as rewarding. Both will have lasting effects on any individual whether its a greater appreciation for your home, insight to a future career, falling in love, or just finding out what truly makes you happy. I highly recommend taking the opportunity to do both and see how they, too, can change your life.

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

7 Types Of Students You Will Meet In College

You wish you could be #5, but you know you're probably a #6.

16081
cool group of lazy college students in class
StableDiffusion

There are thousands of universities around the world, and each school boasts its own traditions and slogans. Some schools pride themselves on sports, while others emphasize their research facilities. While there is a myriad of differences among each and every school, there will always these seven types of students in class.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

15 Rhyme Without Reason Greek Life Function Ideas

When you have no ideas for what to wear to this date function

317280
A dog and a frog
Healthy Pets

I am going to a rhyme without reason date function and I have looked at so many different rhyming words and I figured there need to be a new list of words. At these functions, there are usually at least two rockers and boxers and an umpteenth amount of dogs and frogs. I have come up with a list of creative and unique ideas for these functions.

If you like what you see, get a shopping cart going with these costumes.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

Yoga love

A long over due thank you note to my greatest passion.

30095
A person in a yoga pose surrounded by a supportive community of fellow yogis with a look of peace and gratitude on their face the image should convey the sense of strength mindfulness and appreciation that the writer feels towards yoga
StableDiffusion

Dearest Yoga,

You deserve a great thank you.

Keep Reading...Show less
Arts Entertainment

Epic Creation Myths: Norse Origins Unveiled

What happened in the beginning, and how the heavens were set in motion.

10331
The Norse Creation Myth

Now, I have the everlasting joy of explaining the Norse creation myth. To be honest, it can be a bit kooky, so talking about it is always fun. The entire cosmos is included in this creation myth, not just the earth but the sun and the moon as well. This will be a short retelling, a summary of the creation myth, somewhat like I did with Hermod's ride to Hel.

Keep Reading...Show less
Old school ghetto blaster sat on the floor
8tracks radio

We all scroll through the radio stations in the car every once in a while, whether its because we lost signal to our favorite one or we are just bored with the same ol' songs every day. You know when you're going through and you hear a song where you're just like "I forgot this existed!" and before you know it, you're singing every word? Yeah, me too. Like, 95% of the time. If you're like me and LOVE some good throwback music, here's a list of songs from every genre that have gotten lost in time, but never truly forgotten.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments