For most college students, study abroad is a well-known concept these days and one that many say has “life-changing abilities,” should you choose to partake.

But what does it really mean when someone says, “study abroad changed my life?” Can a semester outside of the United States really make that much of an impact on your life? Here at Extra Credit, we want to unpack that statement by highlighting some scenarios of ways study abroad can lay the foundation for important life skills:

You are studying abroad in Berlin, Germany, a city with a complex public transportation system (seriously, look at this map!). You've only been in country for a few days. You have a 9:00am class and live in a part of the city where few people speak English- the metro is your only option to get to campus on time, but you haven’t taken it yet. You haven’t even bought yourself a metro pass! Oh yeah, and in your rush to get ready, you've misplaced your guidebook of the city. What do you think you would do in this situation?

You are studying abroad in Bangkok, Thailand. You've never traveled outside of the U.S. and are a commuter student at UMBC, still living at home. You’re very comfortable with your lifestyle and routine. Bangkok, on the other hand, is significantly different than your life at home. Since being in country, you've been served rice for breakfast, you have a hand-held water sprayer in your bathroom shower, and you just can’t seem to find the kind of deodorant that you are used to using. How do you think you would react to these seemingly small, but nonetheless, differences from your home life in the U.S? 

You are studying abroad in São Paulo, Brazil and staying with a host family close to campus. There is also an international student from France living with the family. After a month in country, you are all sitting around the living room one night and a conversation forms between the French student and your host family regarding customs and traditions in Brazil versus France. Even though you've been thinking a lot about the cultural differences between Brazil and the U.S., you've been too timid to discuss them with your host family, because you've never had a conversation like this before with someone from a different cultural background. How do you think you’d approach this situation and what might you gain from having this type of conversation with your host family?

Independence, adaptability, and cultural competency are only a few examples of ways that study abroad can have a long lasting impact on a person. 

It’s important to remember that studying abroad isn't life-changing just because you went. In many ways, it’s what you do to carry your experiences and lessons-learned forward. For example, a person does not become culturally competent from one conversation- it takes multiple conversations and actions to develop this skill. It is an ongoing commitment to learning who you are and what your role in the world is meant to be. But study abroad is a great place to build this foundation.

If you’re starting to think study abroad might be in your future, we’ll end on three important tips to keep in mind as you consider whether or not study abroad is right for you:

1. Study abroad is not a vacation. It isn't a chance to kick back and take it easy for a semester. Of course you will have fun and there will be opportunities for relaxation; however, it’s important to view it as a learning experience.  Challenge yourself with the classes you choose to take, make an effort to speak the native language, and try to gain as much knowledge as you can about the culture you’re in.

2. There are varying levels of immersion. It’s important to research and consider what level of immersion is best for you. Do you want to take classes in a different language or classes taught in English? Do you want to live with a host family or in an apartment with other U.S. students? Do you want to go on an exchange program where you are essentially by yourself, or with a group of other students?

3. PLAN EARLY. This is an important one. Not only will planning ahead help ensure that you can actually make study abroad fit into your overall academic plan, but it will also give you enough time to financially prepare for your time abroad. As a freshman, let your academic advisor know as soon as possible so that the two of you can start this planning process, including saving some required coursework for study abroad.

 UMBC’s Study Abroad Office: here

*In order to meet with a study abroad advisor, you must first attend a Study Abroad 101 Information Session* 

These take place:

Mondays, 12-1pm

Thursdays, 3-4pm

Tips for Making Study Abroad Work for Any Major: here

American Citizens Abroad Can’t Be Global Citizens: here

List of Notable U.S. Study Abroad and Peace Corps Alumni: here

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Where you do you think you’d like to study abroad and why is this your first choice? How do you think this experience might impact you?