“Studying abroad was the best experience of my life.”
“Studying abroad really changed me.”
“I didn’t want to come home!”
When people come home from studying abroad, they can’t say enough positive things the experience. But what made them love it so much? And why should you consider studying abroad? I asked a few of my friends that I met at LSE about their favorite experiences and why they decided to study abroad. Maybe their answers will resonate with you and get you excited about booking your next adventure!
Pushing yourself
“I studied abroad because I wanted to push myself out of my comfort zone and it’s definitely done that.”
Bailey, University of Michigan
A huge part of going abroad was challenging myself to do things that made me uncomfortable. For me, that’s not too hard considering I’m scared of everything: planes, bridges, heights… and that’s just the start. But in the past 4 weeks, I’ve hopped on a plane, pedaled across 2 bridges on a pedibus, and took a boat cruise where I forced myself to stay on the top deck.
It gets difficult to shake things up and be brave when you’re in the same environment as usual. In a different place, it’s easier to let go of fears and things have held you back in the past.
Do things that no one expects you to do… especially yourself.
Meeting new people
“The London School of Economics had always been a dream of mine, and being able to spend the summer here was the perfect chance to not only study at an incredible place, but see so much of the world in the most authentic way. Most importantly, I met some of the most amazing people, friends I hope to have for a lifetime.”
Hope, Yale University
The relationships you make abroad aren’t like any other. Everyone goes in not really knowing anyone, so people are super willing to form friendships. It’s like the first few days of college, but sped up.You only have a few weeks or months with these people, so bonds form really quick.
You also have an awesome opportunity to get to know these people while exploring and traveling around the city/country. Make sure to plan dinners, tours, and weekend trips so you can make the most out of your time with your friends.
“I’d say the best part about studying abroad is getting to meet new people from different parts of the world, and being able to learn and study within a fresh new environment.”
Nicole, University of Malta
While I’ve been in London, I’ve meet people from all over the States, Australia, Asia, and Europe. These are people that I would love to visit and I will definitely see again. I’m so glad to have met the people that I did, and I can’t wait until we can all reunite.
Going to a new university and system
“My favorite thing about studying abroad was being exposed to a totally different university.”
Justin, Northeastern University
Going to Northeastern is awesome, but going abroad means you have the opportunity to try a different schooling system — and have it transfer back to NU! Experiencing a different teaching style and grading scale has been super interesting, and has opened my eyes to how education differs across the world.
For example, at the LSE, an A is above a 70% which sounds awesome based on the American grading system. However, here, they hardly award anything above a 75%. For my final exam, I had to say something “profound” to get an A, whereas in the States, if your answer is correct, you should get an A. When I talked to my European friends about this, they said that this grading system is the norm in a lot of European countries. Who knew!
“I studied abroad because I’ve always wanted to go to London but I wanted to experience it from the perspective of a student/local more than as a tourist.”
Lilia, University of Michigan
Before classes started, my family and I got to tour around London for a week. I definitely feel very different about London now than when I did when I was touring around. Studying at a university in another country really does make you feel like more than a tourist — I am by no means a local (my accent gives that away pretty quickly) but I feel more like I belong here.
When I was touring around, I felt more like a visitor, but now, I feel like I could actually live and work here in the future.
Experiencing a new culture
“I decided to come abroad to get a feel of a new place and experience the culture and tradition.”
Arhan, Northeastern University
“Being exposed to new ideas, cultures, and people!”
Claire, Brown University
From new food, to different customs, to local shops, going to a different country is a breath of fresh air. Push yourself to stay away from the chains that you may see in America, and really experience the culture in your host country.
And, make sure to meet non-Americans too — it’s easy to spend time with Americans or people from Northeastern. But, you can do that anywhere! The relationships that will be most meaningful are those that are different and new, and more of a challenge.
I know that you’ve heard a lot of these things before. But, these words come from students all over the world who are currently studying abroad or have just finished, so these ideas are very current and real. Studying abroad, no matter if the program is 6 weeks or 6 months long, provides an invaluable experience to further your education in a fun and rewarding way. So go out and explore! What’s stopping you?
