Study Abroad Success
Location, Location, Location
Don't be married to your desired location
Meal in Japan
You probably already have a good idea of where you want to study abroad. If you’re like most study abroad students, you know the region of the world you want to study in, and you start looking at programs that fit the bill.
Take the example of my children: Alana knew she definitely wanted to go to France. She didn’t want to study abroad in any of the many francophone countries (Canada, Switzerland, Senegal, Mali, Haiti, Cameroon, Morocco, Tunisia, Martinique, etc.) and my son, Adrian, wanted China or nothing. Other students might not be that extreme. They will often consider other places, but they generally have an idea of where they would like to study abroad.
Is your focus on learning a new language or in developing greater proficiency in a language you have previously studied? Do you want to take classes in English? Then you might want to consider the U.K., Australia, New Zealand, parts of South Africa, or Canada. If you want classes in Spanish, then you can select from Spain, Mexico, and most of Central and South America.
Take the example of my children: Alana knew she definitely wanted to go to France. She didn’t want to study abroad in any of the many francophone countries (Canada, Switzerland, Senegal, Mali, Haiti, Cameroon, Morocco, Tunisia, Martinique, etc.) and my son, Adrian, wanted China or nothing. Other students might not be that extreme. They will often consider other places, but they generally have an idea of where they would like to study abroad.
Is your focus on learning a new language or in developing greater proficiency in a language you have previously studied? Do you want to take classes in English? Then you might want to consider the U.K., Australia, New Zealand, parts of South Africa, or Canada. If you want classes in Spanish, then you can select from Spain, Mexico, and most of Central and South America.
Of course, when you think about location you must also consider the safety of the region you plan to call your temporary home. Stay away from trouble spots. If you already know or have family overseas, you might want to live with them but this is generally not a preferred option.
Japanese Street
Do you want to live in a big city or do you prefer a more rural area?
Do you want to live in a culture very different from your own or would you prefer the more comfortable familiarity of a developed nation?
The last thing I want to mention is flexibility. Don't be so set on your dream location, that you won't consider other options. The universe has a way of providing us with what we need. So, if your top-choice location becomes unavailable, then embrace your second choice.
This happened to several student I know of. One person had her heart set on France, but "settled" for French-speaking Belgium instead and she had a wonderful year abroad. So, just go for it. You have an opportunity to do what many people only dream of, so go for it!
Okay, enough about location. Let's look at academics.
Do you want to live in a culture very different from your own or would you prefer the more comfortable familiarity of a developed nation?
The last thing I want to mention is flexibility. Don't be so set on your dream location, that you won't consider other options. The universe has a way of providing us with what we need. So, if your top-choice location becomes unavailable, then embrace your second choice.
This happened to several student I know of. One person had her heart set on France, but "settled" for French-speaking Belgium instead and she had a wonderful year abroad. So, just go for it. You have an opportunity to do what many people only dream of, so go for it!
Okay, enough about location. Let's look at academics.
