Your
parents, professors, and friends probably all have opinions
about where you should go. Don’t listen to them! (At
least not that much). What is important is that YOU decide
what’s right for you. Ask yourself, “What are
my goals for studying abroad? What do I hope to get out
of it?” These are questions that only you can answer.
You may want to take out a sheet of paper and make a list
of your academic, professional and personal goals for study
abroad, as well as other factors that you consider important
to you.
Set Priorities.You will have to decide what aspects of study abroad are most important to you. Is it the classes you will take? The location? The opportunities to travel? Do you want to learn a language? Do you hope to get a job someday at a company that has offices in that region?
There's a reason it's called STUDY abroad: academic goals. While you will learn a lot outside of the study abroad classroom by being immersed in a foreign culture, the academic component of study abroad is still the reason for your trip. What are your academic goals for your program abroad? Do you want to focus on requirements for your major? Study a new language or fulfill language requirements? Take classes on the history and culture of the foreign country? Make sure the program you choose offers the courses you want or need.
Parlez-vous français, or would you like to? Decide whether you want to learn another language, perfect a language you already have a basic knowledge of, or study in English. Studying abroad can be the best way to gain proficiency in another language. Learning and using a language where it is spoken is very different from classroom instruction. That language becomes a real, live breathing thing you have to interact with 24 hours a day -- and you move toward or reach that stage where you speak, understand, and think in that language without hesitation.
If you don’t speak a foreign language, there are many programs that offer study in English -- and not only in English-speaking countries! English is becoming the world's lingua franca, and many non-English speaking countries offer course work in English to attract international students and to prepare their own students for the wider world. All Scandinavian countries, the Netherlands and the Czech Republic offer much of their course work in English, and many other countries, such as Italy, France and Russia, have special offerings and facilities and English. Although you will be studying in English on these programs, you can often take courses in the host country’s language as well and may be able to begin to learn a new language.
Building that resume: professional goals. Consider how study abroad fits into your professional goals. Would learning or perfecting a language look good on your resume and be useful in your career? Would you like to combine study abroad with an internship? What location of study will be most useful in your future career, or most impressive to an employer? If you would like to develop significant knowledge about another country and culture for your career, and would like to demonstrate this to a potential employer, are you going on a program that is long enough? A year-long or semester-long program in Italy may convince an employer that you are very knowledgeable about the country; a three-week program may not.
Money matters: How much money do you want to spend? Costs are highly variable from program to program, depending on duration and what program fees cover. Exchange programs are usually the most cost-effective. There is something for every pocketbook, roughly from $3,000 to $15,000 a semester for all types of programs. Keep in mind that many program fees do not include all of your expenses. Room and board, international travel and personal expenses are often extra. Remember that all financial aid and scholarships will apply to your experience.