7 Rewarding Benefits Of Studying Abroad

In 2019 only 1.8% of all American students were enrolled in programs to study abroad.

This despite over 40% of employers saying that they lacked internationally skilled employees in their enterprises.

Studying abroad affords you with opportunities and experiences that you simply can not find in homegrown educational institutions.

If you or another member of your family is considering the option of studying abroad in their future, then take a look at our guide.

We consider some of the incredible benefits that taking your education overseas can offer and how you will benefit from them.

1. Learn a Language

Studying overseas opens up a world of language learning opportunities. Best of all, they are completely immersive. You can surround yourself with native speakers enabling you to practice and improve daily.

If you already have a good level in your target language, you could consider taking a course in that language for an even more immersive experience.

Immersive learning is proven to the quickest way to pick up a new language. So, taking the opportunity to learn while studying your core subjects will give you the best chance of becoming bilingual.

2. Gain Independence

One of the benefits of studying abroad is that it gives you a new outlook on life and more self-belief.

It is hard to move to a new country, make new friends and potentially speak a new language. Even if your new home country speaks the same language, there will be cultural differences.

The first three months are the most difficult as the realities of your new challenge start to become apparent. But this is the time for you to discover unique hidden strengths within yourself.

You will discover new-found confidence in your abilities and capability to cope with difficult situations. This will enable you to grow as a person in a way only going far out of your comfort zone can.

You will need to take care of yourself emotionally, physically, and financially and this is empowering.

3. Make New Friends

Study abroad programs are a great opportunity to meet new like-minded individuals looking for the same life challenges as yourself.

They are the kind of people who will become life-long friends as you face the challenges of studying and living together in a different country.

You can make friends from other cultures who speak other languages who will vastly broaden your horizons and ideas. Having a culturally diverse group of friends is a great way to grow as a person.

4. Learn About Different Cultures

When you live inside a different culture, you get an opportunity to experience it that you could never find any other way. Reading and watching documentaries can only teach you so much about people and places.

Living the culture, the language, the food, and the lifestyle will open your eyes to incredible new experiences and people. You will be introduced to other beliefs that will make you challenge your own.

This is a good thing. Breaking outside of your comfort zone is an advantage as so many of us fail to even try. Challenging yourself and your personal beliefs when you are young enables you to grow.

One of the great benefits of studying abroad is this opportunity to develop yourself as an individual.

5. Looks Good on a CV

If you want to impress university or college entrance boards or potential future employers in your homeland, show them that you have lived abroad.

Many people do not even leave their home town, let alone their home country, so showing that you are brave enough to travel and live overseas is advantageous. For example, if you live in a city with increasing international importance like Atlanta, where nearly 15% of the population is foreign-born, you already have great global networking opportunities. You should complement this by using a resume writing service in georgia to prepare your curriculum vitae, so that you are quickly able to best represent yourself as professionally as possible.

If you are lucky and skilled enough to win any study abroad scholarships to one of the better overseas schools - even better! There are some amazing schools to study in overseas that will greatly enhance your CV.

For example, the best Swiss school currently is Institut auf dem Rosenberg, a prestigious school which, if you are lucky enough to attend, could greatly enhance your further prospects at college and work.

6. Discover Overseas Opportunities

Making friends and discovering new cultures are fantastic benefits of studying abroad, but there are others that will last further into adulthood.

Working overseas will enable you to start building contacts in new places, which can open up doors later in life.

Networking when you live abroad is important to help you fit in and develop. It also allows you to develop connections that you can use when looking for jobs or seeking university acceptances, perhaps in another country.

If you have also leveraged learning another language, then all the better. Your options are further expanded, and there may be many more opportunities waiting for you when you graduate.

7. Personal Growth

The most significant benefit of studying abroad is the growth that will happen to you as a person.

You will develop new skills. You will learn new languages. You will meet new people and build life-long friendships and contacts that can help you grow later in life.

You become a global citizen and are no longer limited by your home town, state, or country's geographical boundaries.

It is an experience that can not be replicated back home on a US campus. You have to go and be there to experience it for yourself.

The things you will learn about yourself when living and studying overseas far outweigh the initial challenges you may face when you first arrive. It is a powerful self-development adventure.

Studying Abroad is a Life-Changing Experience

There really is nothing else like studying abroad for growth as an individual. If you are lucky enough to experience a school education overseas, then you have been set on a path that very few will duplicate.

You will learn new skills, languages, and things about yourself you did not know were possible. You will make new international friends and experience new cultures.

A world of opportunities opens up to you when you choose to study abroad.

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