Studying Abroad: A Great Opportunity for Some (But Not for All) by Olivia

Studying Abroad: A Great Opportunity for Some (But Not for All) by Olivia - March 2016 Scholarship Essay

Studying abroad can be a life-changing experience, as any student who has had that opportunity can attest. The benefits extend not only to the individual student, but to the school and the country to which the student belongs. International study improves our understanding of other cultures, which benefits us in international relations, in the global marketplace, and here at home. It gives us an advantage economically, and it fulfills moral obligations we have to the international community. It is conceivable that we could build a more just society and a better economic future for America’s college students by mandating that all students study abroad for at least one semester. However, the benefits of that experience must be weighed against the freedom of choice that our society expects colleges (especially public colleges) to provide to their students and their families.

In the global economy, the market is much bigger than the United States, so sensitivity to cultural differences becomes critically important. When a person’s experience gives them a better understanding of another culture, that person becomes a more valuable asset for a company or organization to have. In fact, the UK’s Association of Graduate Recruiters (AGR) has found that many jobs that require international collaboration skills go unfilled, because employers cannot find enough applicants with the skills needed to operate in the international marketplace. The AGR concludes that schools should use more resources to foster global awareness and prepare students for business in the 21st century. For example, partnerships and internships with employers can build undergraduates’ skill sets in international business, and communications tools such as social networks and video conferencing can allow students to experience foreign cultures with unprecedented ease. That experience extends beyond students’ undergraduate years into the workplace as they begin their careers.

In addition to the economic benefits, understanding other cultures helps us overcome and prevent racial and ethnic misunderstandings. It has been shown that people who lack cultural sensitivity tend to either overestimate or underestimate the influence of culture when working with members of a different ethnicity. There is a tendency to view the world through the lens of ethnocentrism when they apply their own behavioral standards to others, which causes lost opportunities and sometimes violence.

Having said all of this, however, the issue of whether all students should be required to study abroad raises questions of practicality. The average cost of studying abroad for one semester is over $18,000, according to the Institute of International Education. Even though many colleges offer subsidies or scholarships toward the cost of international travel, the airfare and other expenses can cost a student’s family thousands of dollars in addition to their normal tuition, which many families cannot afford in this era of spiraling college costs. At many schools, tuition for a semester abroad costs more than a semester at the student’s home university, and with the British Pound at $1.43 U.S. and the Euro at $1.10 U.S., even a trip to the grocery store is often more expensive in a foreign country. Housing costs are also a concern; they vary by program, but some programs require the student to find his or her own apartment, which is a significant added cost.

In addition to financial concerns, and perhaps more importantly, many students simply have no interest in studying abroad, because their future career plans are focused domestically and do not involve international travel. Given that the majority of American workers do not directly interface with individuals or organizations in other countries, it is reasonable to expect that colleges could continue to prepare students well for careers in business, education, law, medicine, science, and the arts without introducing an emphasis on foreign cultures that would not appeal to many students anyway.

In my opinion, despite the significant benefits that international study can bring to the individual and to the country as a whole, institutions of higher learning need to respect students’ wishes in this area and not force them to take on the additional cost of studying abroad. Today, colleges and universities offer a variety of programs for students who are interested in studying abroad and can afford it, and those programs provide both tangible and intangible benefits to American students. This type of opportunity works best, however, when it does not distract students from their future goals or create an undue financial burden. While I myself am interested in studying abroad during my college years, I cannot recommend enforcing it for all students.