Why Studying Abroad shouldn't be required. by Aaron

Why Studying Abroad shouldn't be required. by Aaron - March 2016 Scholarship Essay

Aaron Mohr
Studying abroad essay
3/5/2016

Why Studying Abroad shouldn’t be required
I think that studying abroad could be very helpful, but do not think it should be required. Studying abroad shouldn’t be required because of the following reasons,

A humanitarian, missionary, and Politician could benefit from studying abroad for sure. Not only becoming educated in the ways of the other countries laws, regulations, beliefs and culture; they also teach them about our ways and views on topics. Having an understanding of how another country operates and understanding their views is important now considering were all inter connected in some way or shape. There are other Majors that can benefit from this as well, such as the fine and applied arts, engineering, Physical and life sciences, and the foreign language majors can all make use of studying abroad.

The risks to doing this however, are numerous. Moving away from your home is one thing, but dedicating yourself to study your program abroad in another country is another. They require you to move out of your comfort zone and interact with cultures and people, who are for the most part, different than you are. It can be daunting, talking to someone from a third world country trying to learn and understand the differences between ours and their particular cultures and ways. A successful experience means you have to be aware of the maturity level involved with said task.

Another particular problem with this, is the cost. You’ll be responsible for other costs when you study abroad, additional fees or tuition may be required by your school or the school you have enrolled to. You’re expected to cover travel costs to that country as well as travel within that country. You also need to be ready to pay or housing, meals, passport fees, visas and other minor expenses that may pop up. Some students can’t afford to do this, as some if not most live at home still.

The final issue to studying abroad is your schedule. Will it hinder or help your graduation date? Some countries have different school holidays which may cause some issues with your college graduation date. Sometimes studying abroad may affect your scholarships that you’ve earned. Some have strict guidelines when it will be awarded, and that could delay your plans or even suspend them until said scholarships are awarded.

So studying abroad can have benefits to those who can afford it, but not everyone can. Maybe some aren’t adventurous and don’t feel up to the challenge of it yet. It should not be required of students, nor should it be forced on us.