According to President George W. Bush, “By studying foreign cultures and languages and living abroad, we gain a better understanding of the many similarities that we share and learn to respect our differences. Students need to participate in activities that increase their knowledge of and appreciation for global issues, languages, history, geography, literature, and the arts of other countries.” And this is exactly where the core points for studying abroad lie. If you are presently planning to take your academic year abroad, you are on your way to set yourself apart from over 95% of college students who did not choose to study abroad, but are contented to see the world from a television and the Internet, if not explore it as a tourist. You should not let anything hinder you from the chance to put your path towards an international education experience. You will surely already gain a new perspective on yourself if you study abroad for a period of summer, quarter, semester, or year. You will achieve this as you constantly will be challenging yourself for living in a different country. You will inevitably encounter many exciting ways to inhabit life. And gaining a level of independence and confidence is expected of you as you expose yourself to varied people. You will certainly experience a different way of living life apart from that you are accustomed to at home. There is certainly a thrill found in the immersion of new culture, people and language. So it is hard to picture not making the most out of your academic year when everything else is taught and exposed to you beyond the walls of your foreign educational institution.

You will have achieved so much while you earn credits to your current degree. Indeed, an academic year abroad can work you on to fulfill and complete your major course requirements in addition to fulfilling several general requirements while in the foreign country. And when you’re done with your studies, rest-assured you will return home with an educational standing ahead of your classmates who did not choose to study abroad. Most of the academic programs offered abroad are complete and fulfilling, not only with regard to academics but even to social life. Every aspect of your academic year abroad will be widely planned for your convenience and contentment, unquestionably everything from your university responsibilities to the social excursions and daytrips. An academic taken abroad is surely an experience worth the cost.