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Pros And Cons Of Studying Abroad
Studying abroad is amongst one of the biggest decisions that individuals often face when it comes to pursuing their educational goals. It’s a life-changing opportunity that only comes during a certain phase and timeline offering a plethora of learning and growth opportunities. However, this decision is not an easy one to make and aspirants are often left confused on how to go about it.
It is most likely that whoever is reading this is thinking about going away to college/university (depending on which country you live in) in another country and you’re trying to decide whether you want to take this step or not. So worry not, we’re here to help you get one step closer to making that decision. There are many pros and cons of studying abroad and we are going to shed light on all of it.
We’ve compiled an ultimate list of pros and cons of studying abroad to help you make an informed decision about studying abroad and if it’s the right choice for you.
As with life, every decision we make is based on how it might affect our lives (whether in a positive or negative manner) therefore, one needs to thoroughly think whether they want to move abroad for higher studies and will take all the challenges and unique experiences with it positively. You might’ve heard stories of all those crazy adventures your siblings and friend have been through but aren’t sure if they’re for you too or not.
Moreover, the decision does not only come with the monetary cost, it has many other factors associated with it that often leaves you to research in detail and think twice before taking the leap of faith.
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Read on to discover the of pros and cons of studying abroad to guide you in making a decision that suits your interests in the best way:
PROS OF STUDYING ABROAD
Being Independent:
Moving abroad for studying purposes means that you are starting from scratch in a new area. Your parents, relatives and friends won’t be there to support you on every step of the day, which will provide you the freedom to become independent. You’ll learn how to support yourself in a newer country and depend on yourself first.
You’ll learn the basic life skills, such as cooking, cleaning and budgeting, that you won’t be able to learn in the facility of your parental home. You’ll also be stepping out of your comfort zone, learning to adapt to new situations, which will be beneficial for your future self. Most importantly, you’ll learn to make your own decisions that will have long-term effects on your life, making you responsible about yourself and those around you.
Broad thinking:
Moving abroad for studying purposes means that you are starting from scratch in a new area. Your parents, relatives and friends won’t be there to support you on every step of the day, which will provide you the freedom to become independent. You’ll learn how to support yourself in a newer country and depend on yourself first.
You’ll learn the basic life skills, such as cooking, cleaning and budgeting, that you won’t be able to learn in the facility of your parental home. You’ll also be stepping out of your comfort zone, learning to adapt to new situations, which will be beneficial for your future self. Most importantly, you’ll learn to make your own decisions that will have long-term effects on your life, making you responsible about yourself and those around you.
New connections:
Oftentimes the friends in our high schools are those we made in our childhood or early teenage lives. One of the top pros of studying abroad is the rich interaction within a mix of cultures that the new place has to offer.
When you move to a new place and a new institution, it helps you in networking with different people of different race and ethnicity, and we are able to make new friends that are able to accompany us in this thrilling journey of life. Friendships made in colleges/universities go on to play an important role in shaping us as well.
You’ll be getting the opportunity to deeply connect with other students in your batch, while collaborating on various projects and sharing new experiences with each other. You’ll be able to enjoy a fun campus life with your friends, and share your achievements with them. During this you will develop lifelong friendships that will not only help you in your professional life but also be with you in your personal life.
Travelling:
Studying abroad will open up the opportunity to explore the country you’ll move to. With your newfound connections in the new place, you will get the opportunity to plan fun trips and getaways to explore the new country. You can take part in fun activities such as hikes, camping, visiting the local landscapes or renowned monuments of that particular country. This way you’ll be able to learn about their culture and history. Therefore, if you love exploring and traveling, studying abroad will provide you with just the right opportunity to fulfill your traveling dream.
Learning new languages:
One of the major pros of studying abroad is being able to interact with new people and becoming fluent in the language that is native to that country. Almost all degree programs are now taught in English, yet many students are not fluent in it. Hence, if you are planning on going to a country abroad, make sure to take a course on the native language there. Even if you choose to go to a country with native language other than English, you’ll still have to either master a new language or achieve conversational understanding to get by.
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Experiencing new cultures:
Living in different countries can help us in interacting with people of different races, ethnicities, religions and cultures prevalent there. Students who move abroad for higher studies are able to learn and experience cultures different from what they have lived with all their lives. Young students are able to learn appreciation and love for others through taking the opportunity to observe the native culture.
Returning home:
As they say, “distance makes the heart grow fonder”, one can also say that shifting abroad to study eventually leads us in returning home (sometimes for holidays or sometimes at the end of a study program) which can be a joyous moment for the students and their family and friends. People learn to appreciate one another when separated for long periods of time and hence when one returns home, the moments spent together are priceless.
CONS OF STUDYING ABROAD
Figuring out how to be independent:
When we shift abroad, we have to learn to not only live on our own, but also manage each and everything; where once, we as young students only had a few chores around the house and could depend on our parents to fulfill every other responsibility, now we much cook food for ourselves, do our own laundry, learn how to pay bills and make sure to spend money within a set budget.
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Adulthood does not start after graduation, rather often times one is thrown into responsibilities as soon as one moves away from home.
Expenses:
Moving to a different country automatically leads to extra expenses that we have to manage on our own- one of the main cons of studying abroad. For a majority of students, they have to bear these expenses themselves rather than depending on their parents for monetary support.
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Likewise not many students can afford to shift to another country, pay rent, travel expenses as well as the required tuition fees which may differ in amount depending on the exchange rate of our native country with that of the foreign one.
Not being fluent in new languages:
On the other hand, one of the major cons of studying abroad is not being fluent in the native language of the country which leads to not being able to interact with those who do not speak any English at all. However, no one can become fluent in another language in a day or two. Hence not only it is vital for someone shifting abroad to take a language test.
Cultural shock:
Shifting to a different country with a different culture can on the other hand, be daunting and the behavior or traditions followed there might come off as a cultural shock to many students unaware of the concept of traditions and cultures being given utter importance.
Eventually, you will have to adjust to these changes. Although this may seem difficult at first, the main benefit of studying abroad is exposure to a different culture. While you may have initially experienced a major change, you will learn to adapt and adjust to the new changes. This will provide you with a new perspective and also instill in you the ability of dealing with changes efficiently.
Endless chores and responsibilities:
However, for those who shift to different countries on a long term basis, find themselves at odd ends due to not being able to manage the chaotic lifestyle, along with their assignments as well as other minimal chores necessary when living alone.
Maintaining long distance friendships:
On the other hand by moving away, we are forced to leave behind those people we have known for many years and also care of. It’s not easy maintaining long distance friendships as often times the different time zones and hectic schedule do not allow us to communicate with one another as frequently in the past.
Initially students will endure loneliness and homesickness since they can no longer be physically next to their friends and family.
Returning home:
However, once we return home, we find ourselves missing our semi-adopted countries and its various traditions, cultures and way of life. We become used to a certain way of life and have our own routines, and hence when we return to a normal routine we had left behind, another form of cultural shock is bound to arise and leave us wondering whether we should have really returned home or not.
8. Probability of Racism Harassment:
While, overall, the countries and societies have become more tolerant of different races and nationalities, racism is still prevalent in many parts of the world. Many students across the world are still a victim of racism in the universities and the countries they choose to study. This often results in them facing bullying, lack of opportunities and low self-esteem which often makes their stay difficult in the new country. Therefore, racism attacks often come into the student’s minds when they are making the decision to study abroad.
For this purpose, it is important that you connect with the people of the university and country you have chosen to go to and research more about the place. This way, you’ll be able to make your decision more easily!
9. Endless Chores and Responsibilities:
Shifting abroad does not only come with a financial cost. Individuals, who shift abroad, often find themselves at odd ends due to not being able to manage the chaotic lifestyle, along with their classes, projects and assignments. They need to be up at their feet at all times, managing every minimal chore when living alone, while also often managing their part-time jobs that they take up to cover the expenses of living abroad.
10. Exposure to Unethical Things:
With cultural shock and a major change in exposure to people with a different lifestyle, sometimes students tend to get involved in unethical things that may harm them. Indulging in activities that may not be the best for them comes with increased exposure to different cultures and independent lifestyles. For some students, this is a major concern and also a reason for them not choosing abroad to go abroad for their education.
However, with time it does get better with time as you get accustomed to your routine and start working. For those who can’t adjust back home, they always have the option to continue their life in the country abroad. This is a major point in decision making as many students prefer to settle in the country they pursue their education from, and rather than shifting back, they utilize their network to build a future there.
Hence, the decision of moving abroad is based on multiple factors, that include your professional goals and future aspirations.
We at Scholar Ace hope we might have been of some help to you in the process of decision-making. You must remember that each person and their experience in life is unique in itself, hence, if you decide to move abroad for higher studies or you decide to acquire an education in your own country, you must make sure to completely enjoy and appreciate each and every moment in life, and opt for an opportunity that fits you best personally and professionally as well.
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