Five Reasons Why Every College Student Should Study Abroad
You get away from Mom and Dad and four other reasons
John Dias
1. Earn credits as you travel: The old saying, “Kill two birds with one stone,” definitely applies to studying abroad. As you travel for a semester, you can earn the same number of credits you would if you stayed at your university or you can study abroad for 3 to 10 weeks and earn from 3 to 10 credits.
2. It looks good on your resume: Employers like to see that their potential employees traveled. It gives them a sense that you have a good background in international affairs. According to the University at Albany Study Abroad Office, “As many past participants have discovered, listing a study abroad experience on your resume can set you apart from the crowd.”
3. Make new friends: Most students that study abroad don’t know the students they are traveling with. As you continue on your journey, you make lots of friends that are in the same position as you.
4. Learn a new language or strengthen a second-language you already know: Even though 53 countries around the world speak English, some countries don’t. Studying abroad helps you brush up on the second language you may have learned in high school or you might learn a whole other language in the process.
5. Get away from Mom and Dad: Studying abroad helps you to become more independent and can offer you a whole new understanding for the United States and the University at Albany. You leave your comfort zone when you study abroad so this departure helps you on your journey to becoming an adult.