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Study Abroad 101: YOU SHOULD DO IT (Here’s How)

Studying abroad can present a smorgasbord of adventure, platform shoes (they never went out of style in Eastern Europe) and accented hotties, but it’s common for students to get stressed out and bogged down in all the details of classes, budgeting, and WILL MY CELL PHONE EVEN WORK THERE before they even sign up. Lucky for you, I’m here to be your brown, hyperventilating paper bag to ease you through all those questions and help you move on to more important things—like should you marry Prince Harry or are you more of a Julia Stiles-type who wants to go to graduate school first and then marry Prince Harry?

So, let’s take a step back, and break down the biggest dilemma that potential abroaders initially face: Can you study abroad? The answer almost certainly is YES. (If you have a rare disease that does not allow you to fly above a specific altitude, might I suggest a semester at sea? I have the answer to literally everything.) Let’s start tackling all those quandaries that leap into your head when thinking about study abroad, so you can put a few thousand miles between you and the bro-tastic collar-poppers and social-media-obsessed brunchers at your school, at least for a semester.

Concern: “I can’t study abroad! I don’t have a bazillion dollars!”

Cost is often a major factor that deters people from taking the leap overseas. And while moving to Paris and shopping only at Prada may not be in the budget (thanks for those realistic expectations Sex and the City), there are some options if you still want to travel, but aren’t looking to shell out the dough.

Option A: If you’re dying to hit the open sky highway, but you don’t want to be forced to eat only Cup Noodles for the next five years after your return, study abroad somewhere with a great exchange rate! Then, you can actually spend less, or about the same, in your semester abroad as you would have on your regular campus. Friends of mine who studied in Ghana came back significantly less broke than those who headed to England or France. This option does steer you away from the ever-seductive (and mostly absurdly expensive) Europe, but that leads me to…

Option B: Study abroad over winter or summer break! The shorter trip won’t cost you nearly as much as a full semester, but you’ll get to experience all the museums, restaurants, and confusing, non-English theater as the kids who spent another couple of months in town. The shorter trip also gives you less time to watch your personal spending habits go wildly out of control. I had several friends who chose this option and had absolutely amazing month-long trips without breaking the bank the way a three or four month stay might. Many of these types of programs also have pre-planned weekend getaways, so you can make the most of being on a different continent!

Another note, many schools will extend any financial aid or scholarships to a study abroad program because they want you to go and LEARN!

Concern: “If I take a semester to study abroad, I’ll fall behind in school!”

You over-achievers out there might worry that taking four months away from your professors and courses will slow down your progress towards your intense business, medical, law, or taking-over-the-world-by-age-36 degree; but, in my experience, almost every major allows for a study abroad semester. Some study abroad locations may even have tailored programs specifically for students on certain tracks. At NYU, my alma mater, London was great for future Dr. McDreamys, Wall Street Wolves could spend a year in China, and all those Marty-Scorsese-to-bes could head to Prague for a semester. Schools encourage everyone to take the time to travel because being exposed to other cultures can only make you a better-rounded, more understanding, and generally smarter citizen. And, for those competitive-minded students not quite convinced, learning another language and having an internship in another country can give you a leg up on those who stayed in one place for all of college when it comes time to apply for a job.

Concern: “The world is scary and will probably eat me!”

One of the best ways to deal with your fear of leaving home or traveling is to GET OUT AND GO. I know, it seems paradoxical. But, honestly, you can’t let your fears control your life (did Four teach us nothing??). The world outside your block, town, city, and school is full of diverse people, places, smells, foods, architecture, history, and types of fancy cheese that are ENTIRELY worth exploring. College is one of the few times that a full administrative staff will actually go out of their way to help you plan a extensive trip to somewhere else, and you should try to take advantage of it. Once you’re out of school, life will be about when you can spare vacation days (because, hello, you need to use some to see your family at Christmas) and how many nights a week you can eat cereal if you want to save up enough money for a plane ticket. In college, there is a system in place to help you see the world—so make the system work for you! You have the rest of your life to work, make money, and become the next Amy Sherman-Palladino; but, college is your shot to travel the world without all the pressures of adulthood telling you to “be responsible.”

Have other questions, concerns, or quagmires regarding the decision to study abroad? Let me knowwwww!