Each year, more and more Americans are taking advantage of studying overseas. Programs include every educational subject as well as humanitarian based programs like environmental sustainability and refugee issues. Also, people are finding time to study abroad due to the fact that programs can last for under eight weeks to as long as a year. The programs are not only open to college students but to those who desire to take a break from work or are retired; but for the focus of this article, I will concentrate on the main study abroad group, college students.
In 1995 there were approximately 90,000 University students who broadened their minds and studied outside the United States, whereas, in 2007, there were 223,534 University students who studied abroad. The number of college students who study abroad is expected to continue to grow over the following years due to the fact that there are more programs available, more colleges are offering credit for studies abroad, and students are naturally becoming more curious to get out and see the world.
According to the International Institute of International Education, 58% of all study abroad college students choose to further their education in Europe. The statistics for other areas of the world are as follows; Latin America 15%, Asia 9%, Oceania (Australia, New Zealand, and the South Pacific) 6%, Africa 4%, the Middle East 1%, and North America .5%. These statistics do not add up to 100%, however, the Institute notes this is due to rounding factors.
My personal experiences studying abroad include; an Undergraduate year program in Vienna, Austria, a Masters of Business Administration summer program in London, England and Munich, Germany, and a month long Spanish course in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Whereas the undergrauate and graduate programs were completed for school credit at my College in America, the Language course in Argentina was independently chosen to enhance my own personal goal of learning the language.
I would encourage everyone to study abroad at least once in their lives. The benefits include the opportunity to not only increase your own knowledge through classes but also to live in a foreign country and learn the culture in a way that would be impossible from simply studying books and looking over photos. Studying abroad is truly an amazing life experience.
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