Advantages, Disadvantages, and effects of Studying Abroad

Studying abroad is the act of going to another country to study the same material but in a completely new and different environment. Some people ask what the purpose is of studying abroad and what are the benefits of it. Well, studying abroad has many effects on the person itself. The person can gain a sense of self-independence and become mature. But what really comes with studying abroad is the type of exposure that is obtained when placed into a new environment. Now that these two effects are developed into a person it aids in finding work by giving the person desirable traits. Overall, the three main effects of studying abroad are maturity and independence, being more tolerable, and work experience.

Studying abroad helps develops independence and maturity. What that means is an individual life, experiences, for himself/herself and no one else. Studying abroad provides the necessary trait that sparks independence. This trait is the one and only curiosity. Set into a new environment, one wants to familiarize oneself with the new home one has set themselves into and when discovering concepts, they never had, brought them excitement (“10 Benefits”). This is called personal development. Studying abroad allows students to test their ability to adapt by becoming overwhelmed by this new sensation, and problem solves (“10 Benefits”). Since the surroundings have become unfamiliar, it really pulls out the comfort in the comfort zone, forcing a sense of change in order to survive. By the time someone chooses to study abroad, it is highly likely that the person is on their own, without parental support, and left to fend on their own behalf. If the person cannot become independent enough in that period the results are more than clear. Studying abroad is a bridge or an obstacle that stands in someone’s way. The obstacle helps to identify whether a person is ready enough to be independent or is on the route to becoming an independent individual. The pressure of becoming independent can only be applied when a person is truly left alone for the first time. Study shows that 95% of students who were surveyed admitted to increasing in maturity, self-confidence, and lasting impact of worldview (Kinloch). The reason how studying abroad causes independence is by changing the thought process of students. They become more self-reliant, replying on views that contradict theirs, and becoming personal leaders in order to guide themselves. Sooner or later the person will have to become accepting of new views, and if they do, they have now grown. If they do not, they will still have room to grow just not at the moment in time, and a delay with be caused. To become independent will depend on if they will ever overcome this point of view.

In addition to the other effect of studying abroad, is tolerance. Tolerance is gained in the form of exposure. If the person has become exposed to the nature of the environment that they are living in, they can vouch for its hospitality as well as its bias. Ignorance is the most irritable trait someone can have when they lack knowledge or experience about a matter at hand. Someone who has been exposed to a heavily biased nation can provide in all the small minor details that the media does not cover. In essence, exposure helps to eliminate ignorance in those who have yet to be exposed to the outside world. Exposure does not only mean knowledge but also someone has perceived that part of the world. Exposure to culture, religion, and traditions, all these facts influence a person’s experience. Culture brings passed down knowledge native to that land and to transfer it to another form of culture from a different land. It opens the mind to more abstract concepts and well of being more accepting of others who are different than themselves. Exposure to religion provides the faith the people of the land had and what created the society, they (the person who is studying abroad) chose to live in. Lastly, traditions are different everywhere. Traditions help identify the amount of tolerance that every other country in the world has. Tolerance is not always fair, because most society cut of females or chose to oppress them as “weak” or stereotyped a certain way. Supporting these facts from a study proves that 98% of students who studied abroad helped them realize the cultural values and biases, and 82% developed a more sophisticated way of looking at the world (Kinloch). Because students have been exposed and their minds have been opened, when they apply for jobs their employers are attracted to it. The amount of exposure to new concepts and ideas from studying abroad shows in their resumes, when submitted, compared to those who have not. It provides employers with the necessary information on their candidates being chosen, and those labeled with “study abroad” brings the idea of all these concepts together.

Studying abroad has now improved a person’s life by granting the person these two-personal traits. What these traits do for a person is to help the person find work easier. How does it help? Well, employers are more likely to hire those who have traveled abroad compared to those who have not. In a study, it proves, using statistics, that “92 percent of employers prefer transversal skills in their collaboration, flexibility, different styles of working, and the ability to communicate effectively” (Matthews). What this means is that when a person travels abroad, they are more in-depth about these skills. As mentioned previously, tolerance and independence can fit under the category of personal development. In essence, those who study abroad can develop the skills wanted, and become scouted when submitting resumes for jobs. Studying abroad also counts as work experience. In fact, it is considered to be universal (Giolando). According to both Matthews and Giolando, their article mentions that studying abroad is highly sought out when searching for candidates in the job search. In the article, proof of studying abroad means only one thing. It will benefit the person who chooses to study abroad. Employers will aim for those with this kind of experience compared to those who have not studied abroad. It shows that the individual is more qualified because of the choice to study abroad compared to the other candidates that did not. Studying abroad brings a significantly massive advantage to those who chose to do it. It should be considered as skewed, in statistical terms, because that is just the scale that will determine a person’s future in the workforce and the kind of economy that will be developed based on those people who had that knowledge implemented.

Hence, studying abroad has these types of effects on an individual. In spite of the fact that these were the main purpose of this essay does not mean these are the only reasons to study abroad. It can provide the most essential of knowledge which is experience, the challenge of making oneself into an individual, and providing an open-minded person through the expose of religion, cultures, etc.… It has been proven by countless research that studying abroad has myriad amounts of beneficial factors that support its cause. Overall, experiencing the process of studying abroad is the core. Experiencing will lead to all the following possibilities for studying abroad. It is the connector to all the different branches provided by studying abroad and the only thing that will bring all the subjects back together as one. Studying abroad develops a person’s personality trait of tolerance and maturity. In addition to having these skills, employers are already seeking out people with these skills. It is a plus to the effects of studying abroad. Employers would probably appreciate these kinds of people who have study abroad, as it will broaden their global view of the world. This broadens the perspective of the world that could only benefit the employer's workforce and permit the employer a rarer type of individual towards their worker.