George Arun A
14-03-2023
Whether you’re fighting personal fears or trying to navigate conflicting advice you’ve heard from others, you might be wondering if studying abroad is right for you. Well, you’re not alone.
With over 100,000 college students studying abroad every year, there’s bound to be all kinds of tall tales, urban legends, and misinformation swirling around. While there may be grains of truth in some of these stories, below are some common misconceptions about study abroad.
Misconception #1: Studying abroad is very expensive.
Truth: In most cases, it is actually cheaper to study abroad. Let’s say the tuition at your school is $5,000 per semester and room and board is another $4,000. Now add in the additional fees you have such as health insurance, books, and laundry. You are now well over $10,000 for the semester. Well, all but one of our programs in Spain is under $10,000 per semester and that includes everything except your airfare and spending money.
There are study abroad programs available at a variety of price points. Some of the more affordable options are semester-long exchange programs where students pay ISU tuition and fees instead of the tuition of the university abroad. In addition, out-of-state students can find programs which cost less than their ISU tuition!
Misconception #2: I can’t use my financial aid to study abroad.
Truth: In almost all cases, your federal aid (Stafford loans, Pell grants, etc.) can be used to study abroad and in some states, you can use your state aid as well. It is also not uncommon for your federal aid to increase when you study abroad since some of your school scholarships may not transfer.
With a little extra work and careful planning, studying abroad can actually be very affordable (or even free). You can always apply early for financial aid (Pell grants, etc.) and seek out scholarships, many of which are only eligible to study abroad students.
For further study abroad funding, explore these tips:
Start with your university's study abroad office. The staff there will have up to date information about different scholarships and grants to help fund your study abroad program.
Go online. Fastweb is an excellent resource for finding study abroad scholarships online.
Apply for the Gilman International Scholarship. Many students who apply successfully receive this scholarship.
Check government websites of the country in which you will be studying abroad in. Many governments offer scholarships as an incentive to study abroad there.
Misconception #3: Host families are all poor and just do it for the money.
Truth: The last thing any study abroad company wants to do is have an unhappy student on their program. The goal is for the students to be happy so that they will tell their friends what a great time they had. If we were putting students in bad families, in dangerous neighborhoods, then no one would ever recommend us to their friends. Since the number of universities that endorse our program doubled over the last year, it’s a pretty sure bet that students are happy with our choice of families.
Many study abroad programs have a number of living options to choose from, such as university dormitories, apartments, or living with a host family. Each has its own pros and cons, but the choice is completely yours.
In the dorms and apartments, students will share the facility with other students either studying abroad with them or attending the university full-time. Living with a local host family is another option and one that is encouraged if you really want to master the local language. Many families will host more than one student if you are concerned about being completely alone.
If you want more flexibility by looking for housing on your own, Uni places offers a variety of student housing. Or, if you'd like a more unique experience, try looking for homestays with Homestay. And, if you plan on traveling frequently, looking for hostels at sites like Hostel world is an option, too.
Misconception #4: I’ll be so busy with schoolwork that I won’t get time to see the country I’m in.
Truth: This one is hysterically funny since your average study abroad student comes home with about 400+ photos from a long list of countries. Students have plenty of opportunities to travel and we even take our students on trips to give them a better feel for the country they are in.
Misconception #5: I might not graduate on time if I go abroad.
Truth: If you have already used up all of your elective or general education courses, then it’s true that you might need to bulk up on courses before or after you go abroad. If you plan ahead, however, and leave some electives open to you, then you should be fine. The clear majority of students who study abroad still graduate in four years, despite being away from their home campus for a semester or two.
With careful planning, you will be able to study abroad and take the necessary courses to graduate on time. Courses are taught in an international format (with possible cultural influences), and credits will generally carry over to your transcript as long as you earn a C- or better.
Of course, you should always reach out to your school’s academic advisor! They can help you plan your courses, double check your credits, and ensure you stay on track to graduate on time.
Misconception #6: Most of the world hates Foreigners, so I won’t be safe.
Truth: There’s no doubt that there are a lot of people who don’t like the other governments, but that has nothing to do with the people. If you compare the violent crime rate in the United States to that of European, Australian, or Asian countries, you will see that the United States is actually far more dangerous. There are some areas of South America and Africa that are not especially safe, but there are also many countries on those continents that are incredibly safe. Go to the U.S. State Department website and check out the crime statistics on the country you are interested in to see how safe it is.
All study abroad programs available to students have been thoroughly checked in order to ensure student safety. Rest assured that governments and universities would disallow the program if there was any serious threat to the wellbeing of students. Studying abroad however, still carries the same inherit dangers of life back home, so you should still follow common sense and trust your instincts.
You may still be required to sign a waiver of liability, but that is standard for any trip abroad. Most programs also offer a crash course of how to get around town and stay safe. Follow this advice and you'll be fine.
Misconception #7: "I'll miss out on too many things while I'm away!"
Truth: Going abroad will provide you with new cultural perspectives that can't be experienced by staying at home. Being in a new environment will help you become a well-rounded individual and enhance your future employment opportunities. Your concern should be, "I know I will miss my friends and family, but I don't want to miss out on the opportunity to study abroad!"
Misconception #8: “I’m an athlete, so I can’t study abroad.”
Truth: If you’re a college athlete who wants to see the world, you may feel like you need to choose between focusing on your sport or studying abroad. We’re here to assure you that yes, athletes can actually study abroad!
With month-long summer semester programs, you can study abroad, see new sights, and not miss out on your sports season.
Misconception #9:"My major isn’t offered abroad."
Truth: Good news -- All majors can be studied abroad! It’s just a matter of researching the course options offered by different programs. Some programs focus on particular majors, while others have a wide range of courses available to choose from. Many programs also have a large selection of courses to study, making it possible for students of any major to study abroad.
Misconception #10:"I'll miss out on too many things while I'm away!"
Truth: Going abroad will provide you with new cultural perspectives that can't be experienced by staying at home. Being in a new environment will help you become a well-rounded individual and enhance your future employment opportunities. Your concern should be, "I know I will miss my friends and family, but I don't want to miss out on the opportunity to study abroad!"
Misconception #11: It’s only for foreign language majors and minors.
Truth: Foreign language majors and minors are a natural choice for participating in a study abroad program, but they only account for roughly 7% of the U.S. students who study abroad*. STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) majors make up a large portion of the study abroad student population, while business follows with a 20% share. In addition, many non-English-speaking countries offer courses taught in English.
Misconception #12: Study abroad is only for juniors.
Truth: Juniors make up a large contingent of our study abroad population, but Iowa State has programs that also work for freshmen and sophomores. Seniors can study abroad as long as they get the 32-credit-hour requirement waived. Iowa State encourages students to think about studying abroad at some point during their sophomore year. Many students have greater academic flexibility when they are sophomores, meaning there are many studies abroad programs that will fit well. In addition, when students study abroad as a sophomore, they will have their final two years on campus, which is a great time to get involved in leadership positions on campus and take advantage of job fairs and to use the course knowledge and “soft skills” they acquired while abroad in their on-campus classes.
Misconception #13: “International experience isn’t valuable to employers.”
Truth: Think again. According to the QS Global employer survey, which surveyed 10,000 hiring managers and CEOs across 116 nations, 60% of respondents do “value an international study experience.”
From resourcefulness and adaptability to cultural sensitivity and language skills, studying abroad can help you stand out from other applicants and allow you to gain transferable skills, which are helpful for succeeding in the workforce.
Misconception #14: The application process is bothersome.
I actually believe the application process is rather favorable for international students. In the admission process, American colleges and universities have a holistic approach toward application review. This process evaluates candidates based on their academic performance, extracurricular and volunteer work, and personal essays, but it also allows students to share their stories and show the university the qualities that aren’t limited to academics. Admittedly, this application process isn’t universal to all US schools, and sometimes there may be extra requirements for international students to submit—but it should still work for you. Start doing activities that interest you and align with your career plans to build a standout application.
Misconception #15: Travelling Alone Gives You the Same Experience.
Truth: One of the most exciting aspects of studying abroad is the opportunity for cultural immersion. You gain an insight into the tradition and lifestyles of other communities. Also, in a classroom with students from across the globe, you broaden your horizon as you interact in this multi-diverse environment.
Educational excursions, unlike tour companies, earmark specific landmarks within the city and in the countryside where students get to learn about the history, growth of a country, and root of local customs and conventions.
Studying abroad is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that every college student should take advantage of. Before dismissing it due to the bad experience of one friend or rumors you have had heard, speak with your study abroad advisor and get the facts. I guarantee that once you look at all that studying abroad can offer you, you’ll be hopping the first flight abroad.
One organization that help ensure that you have safest, unforgettable yet affordable study abroad experience is Academic Studies Abroad.
Here are some of our very popular study abroad programs in the following countries:
Study Abroad Spain - Academic Studies offers study abroad programs in Barcelona, Madrid, Salamanca and Sevilla.
Study Abroad England- Academic Studies offers study abroad programs in London.
Study Abroad Italy - Academic Studies offers study abroad programs in Florence.
Study Abroad France - Academic Studies offer study abroad programs in Aix-en-Provence and Avignon.
Study Abroad Ireland - Academic Studies offers study abroad programs in Dublin. Interested in going to Ireland?
Browse universities abroad!
Universities in USA: 947 Universities
Universities in UK: 168 Universities
Universities in Australia: 117 Universities
Universities in Japan: 2 Universities
Universities in Canada: 147 Universities
Universities in Ireland: 28 Universities
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