Louise Wirtz: GO

You have to study abroad to get the full experience of a degree.  I knew I would enjoy it and I knew I would learn a lot, etc etc, you’ll hear all that.  However, you can’t connect what all that really means until you go out and really live in it.  The things about study abroad that scare people or cause people to hesitate are temporary – financial issues can be alleviated with low-interest student loans, financial aid, fundraising, working while abroad, or savings. 

Having no one around you that you know might just force you to get out there a bit a meet people, try something new, push yourself harder or even enjoy school more for the content.  Having a new setting is something people say they aren’t scared of but so often shy away from with lame excuses.

My advice is that if you’re thinking about going abroad you need to do it. Now is the time, while you’re doing a bachelor and you have fewer commitments than you will later.  If you wait for a ‘better time’ you will just have more commitments and more ties to home and it will get harder to leave and just simply be an exchange student having fun abroad. 

It’s worth every minute and it’s something you can’t look back on with regret because whatever happens will teach you something else about travel, yourself or your studies.