5 Reasons Why Students Don't Study Abroad

Reasons why students don't end up studying abroad | Study Abroad and Beyond How amazing would it be to say that you studied abroad?

Imagine sitting in a classroom in a renovated castle…

Savoring a tea ceremony with your classmates…

Visiting a local museum to conduct research in the host language…

Meditating with stunning views around you…

Touring the lesser-visited sites of a city…

Making friendships that last for decades…

This – and more – can be accomplished by studying abroad.

Many students consider a college or university based on the study abroad program offerings, but then never end up enrolling in a program. Study abroad departments are constantly trying to decrease the barriers for students interested in studying abroad, and yet research shows that 90 percent of students in the United States do not study abroad – for any length of time – during their college careers.

Isn’t that crazy!?

Here are five reasons, in no particular order, I usually hear from students who do not end up enrolling in a study abroad programs (or ultimately end up withdrawing from their programs before departing – keep in mind that I was one of those students who withdrew!):

It’s too expensive
I don’t want to miss out on football/ basketball/ rush week/ friend hangout nights/ holidays/ special events with my family
I’m scared for my safety
I am anxious about going
My girlfriend/ boyfriend/ significant other would leave me

Let’s address each of these individually:

It’s too expensive.

Studying abroad is expensive; however, the expense depends on the individual – if you are more likely to walk everywhere, stay locally each weekend, cook your own meals or stay with a homestay, your costs will be very different from someone who travels every weekend, eats out for every meal, and drinks every night.

I encourage you to give yourself a hard budget in advance – whatever money you have available to yourself during your program, you will spend (I say this with 95% confidence). Consider earmarking money for your time abroad before you leave for the program.

Also, the earlier you start planning your study abroad program, the more likely that you will be able to apply for scholarships before the deadline (side note – head to the Resources page for some scholarship ideas!).

I don’t want to miss out on anything.

Let me be very frank with this – you will miss things.

You will miss football games, and basketball games, and nights out with your friends, and weddings, and maybe even Thanksgiving.

However, this is balanced out with nights out with your new friends from all over the world, soccer games (attending a soccer game in Latin America or Europe is almost a requirement, and calling it football is a requirement too!), cuisine exchange with your friends or host family, weekends away to exciting new cities, a greater understanding of yourself and your home culture, and so much more.

Who is truly missing out is really up for debate.

I’m scared for my safety.

Fear of the unknown is completely normal. However, there is risk inherently in everything that we do and everywhere we go.

Your study abroad program and your home university each have a vested interest in your safe return home. You should research any travel risks in your destination on the Department of State travel site, as well as plan for your course of action in the event of an emergency (as a hint, this information is probably in your pre-departure packet as well as on the website for your host school or program).

There are a number of interactive websites that provide different data points from countries around the world; NationMaster is one such site that I encourage you to poke around.

I’ve talked a lot about why you should register with the STEP Program – I do this before each of my trips to keep myself up to date with anything going on in my destination country, and to make sure that they have my back in a not-so-great situation.

Related Post: Why You Should Use the STEP Program

Finally, thoroughly review your international medical insurance coverage and consider purchasing insurance that covers travel as well.

I’m anxious about going.

Anxiety makes perfect sense. It’s not every day that someone wakes up and decides to leave their university and home country for an extended period of time. We have all gone through the “… oh, what have I done?” emotions prior to leaving for a program or some time abroad.

Try to break down your anxieties – are you nervous about not knowing anyone when you get there?

Are you anxious about the language barrier?

Are you freaking out about your housing?

Did you forget to disclose some accommodations information?

Did you watch the news and get nervous about an earthquake in Chile that you think will affect you in Cuba?

Speak candidly about your anxieties with your study abroad advisor so you can get the information and support that you need.

My significant other would leave me.

Open communication here is key. I have seen many different iterations of couples experiencing study abroad programs- a couple studies abroad together and stays together, a couple studies abroad together and does not stay together, one person goes abroad and they stay together, one person goes abroad and the relationship ends immediately, two people meet on a study abroad program and get married… Really, everyone is different.

Communicate with your SO about your anxieties far in advance so you can make a decision about your study abroad experience that will benefit you, your future career, and your academic experience.

Who knows, maybe distance will actually make the heart grow fonder…

What made you think twice about studying abroad? What ultimately motivated you to go (or stay)?

One thought on “5 Reasons Why Students Don’t Study Abroad”

Michelle Adams says:

December 6, 2016 at 3:55 pm

Another thing is course availability. If you’re on a strict schedule to graduate on time, and your major requires specific classes, it can be hard to arrange a study abroad.