Studying Abroad Myths

The reason many students discard the possibility of studying abroad when in college is due to pre-construed myths passed on. Many believe that there is not enough time or that it is too expense, or that the classes they need to graduate will not be offered overseas. The list goes on with myths that American college students believe, and below are some of the most common ones, and the truth.

First Myth: I won't be able to graduate on time if I study abroad.
College credits can be earned when studying abroad, fulfilling courses necessary to your major. This can actually help you complete a minor in a language. Even if the case turns out to be that you have to push back your graduation a couple of months if you study abroad, the experience will be worth your time you "think" you lost.

Second Myth: I only speak English, which means I would only be able to study in an English-speaking country.
False! Many universities abroad offer courses in both their home language and English as well. In other cases, a semester is required of the foreign language before actually studying abroad. Students tend to stick to the idea that their monolingualism restricts from being able to study in France or Russia, but this has been debunked.

Third Myth: Studying abroad is too expensive.
Actually, it often costs the same as a semester would at home in the United States. If you end up studying abroad in a country with a very low cost of living, you will actually be saving money. Universities in the United States also usually give out scholarships that are study abroad-specific.

Fourth Myth: Only language majors study abroad.
This is not true; study abroad programs are available for students majoring in: social science, humanities, arts, business, and economics. Some programs are even offered for biological science majors. Learning a language while you are abroad is a very nice bonus that you could possibly even turn into a minor.

Fifth Myth: I can travel once I have a job and I am earning money.
Finding time to travel is hard once you have a job and everything just becomes more complicated. Going to a different country as a tourist is extremely different than going to live there for 5 months of your life and actually becoming integrated. Tourists are outsiders; study abroad students become "residents".