Travel around the world for college?

Exploring the negative sides of studying abroad in the first semester of college

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Although studying abroad seems like an exotic new experience, the transition becomes difficult for students because they must learn to adapt to all the new faces and unfamiliar cultures. New places have different laws, which can make the adjustment confusing. Taking the step from high school to college is already terrifying, but going straight to another country is even more daunting. This big move might be a decision students are not ready for.

One of the main topics discussed about college is the cost. Money plays a huge role in what school students choose and it causes extra stress on families over how they are going to pay fro all of the expenses. Studying abroad adds to this stress as it is fairly expensive. According to research by the International Institute of Education, the average cost of studying abroad is around $36,000 a year on top of the cost to get into the school, housing, and transportation.

"Studying abroad is an expense that a lot of people can't afford. They may have other expenses they have to take care of, such as helping out their family. Studying abroad can also lead to a lot of debt. College is expensive just by itself, let alone studying abroad," Sarah Kosik ('19) said.

The study abroad program leads to other issues as well, if a student studies abroad in a location with a prominent foreign language, it creates a harder time for them to communicate. At least at first in a new place, this can get very confusing and overwhelming.

"If you travel somewhere without knowing the language, it makes it harder to adjust to your new surroundings. A common language being spoken and understood solidifies an environment. Without knowing the language, you can't form bonds with other people who know the new place, which makes it really hard to adapt," Jamie Rivera ('19) said.

The struggle to communicate leads to the inability to connect with others. Students often feel isolated in a new place, and not being able to communicate makes it harder to create new friends. The isolation alone can ruin the abroad experience by making the student want to travel back home to familiar faces.

"I definitely think it would be a change especially since I've never been on my own completely before, let alone by myself in another country. It would be hard to make friends because I don't know any other language besides English, so I would one hundred percent have to study and become somewhat fluent before I went," Julia Cirigliano ('19) said.

Change is a difficult experience and college is definitely not an exception. Students may have anxiety about the transition and studying abroad may not be the right choice for them. Moving so far away can make the life changing shift a lot more challenging and may ruin the college experience.

Published: https://issuu.com/mustangpress/docs/issue_6_hb_senior_issue_may_2019