Should all college students be required to study abroad? Why or why not? by Courtney

Should all college students be required to study abroad? Why or why not? by Courtney - March 2016 Scholarship Essay

Studying abroad is beneficial in many ways that far exceeds just increasing knowledge. It gives individuals a chance to travel, broaden their horizons, learn different cultures and have an experience of a life time. Many may express that studying abroad has been one of the most memorable and most rewarding experiences of their lives. However, few are not able to experience such an eye-opening endeavor. Studying abroad should not be required for students because it can be costly, it may be inconvenient for various individuals, yet it should be highly encouraged.
Studying abroad can be a costly endeavor. One major aspect that many people consider when choosing to study abroad is how much the tuition is, plus money for hotel or logging, funds for food, funds for toiletries, funds for books, and money to spend for souvenirs. Contrary, to just attending school, buying books and paying tuition, studying abroad has a greater financial obligation. There are scholarships that schools do provide for students, yet many of them pay a partial amount.
Studying abroad also can be inconvenient. There are many individuals who are attending college while also having a family and a full-time job. For individuals with children, it can be arduous and daunting to have to consider finding a baby sitter for 3 weeks to 2 months so that they can take a required study abroad course. Or perhaps if they are not able to, it will be expensive to have to pay an additional amount for their children to attend too. For individuals working a full-time job, It may be difficult to express to their boss, that they have to take off a vast amount of time to take a class in Paris. There are many people living different lives, and not everyone has the luxury to consider to study abroad.
Though Studying abroad can be costly, and time consuming, it is an awesome experience that should be highly encouraged. It is one thing to sit in a class room for one to two hours learning about French. However, it is completely different being in the atmosphere of Europe learning the language as well as listening to it, additionally learning the culture. Studying abroad is like an adult school field trip. It puts you in a different, alternative learning environment, and will contribute to and heighten student learning. Studying abroad is such a rewarding learning opportunity, students who are able to shouldn’t hesitate yet sign up for a memorable occurrence that they will be talking about for a lifetime.