Is Studying Abroad Right For You? by Conor

Is Studying Abroad Right For You? by Conor - March 2016 Scholarship Essay

In theory, I think having the opportunity to study abroad is fantastic because the experience can help students develop a global mindset and traveling exposes students to different ways of living. However, studying abroad should be optional for students and not a requirement because it can be very expensive and may push students farther into debt.
The costs associated with college tuition have been hotly discussed for years now and students are graduating from universities with more debt than ever. In some instances students are taking upwards of a decade to pay off their student loans which is unacceptable. If traveling abroad were a requirement, it would further push students into debt while providing no tangible benefits. Granted, there is no price that you can put on an amazing semester in Florence, but college is a time for students to learn how to be fiscally responsible and making it mandatory to travel abroad hardly encourages responsibility.
Traveling, in general, is a luxury regardless of whether you are a student or not. Students and working professionals alike need to weigh the pros and cons of sinking thousands of dollars on a trip. Therefore, the question should not be if studying abroad should be required but rather if it is right for each individual student. In fact, if a student is considering going abroad, they should be required to sit down with someone in the financial aid office to review the average costs associate with taking a semester abroad in the location they are considering. If you are a student of means and can afford a trip abroad then you'd be crazy to miss out on that opportunity but if you are already buried in debt you should think twice about a semester abroad.