A/N: This will be a two part post! Part one will be about how to choose a program and part two will be about how to choose your destination.
Now that you've (hopefully) chosen a program that you'd like to apply for, it's time to start thinking about where you want to go. You probably already knew where you wanted to go before you even chose a program- and that's great! The only reason that you should choose your program first (and that the posts are in this order) is so you have an idea of what's actually available to you. Duration, price and time are all important factors in your experience, so make sure you have a good idea of those things before you start.
If you know you want to study abroad but you're not sure where you want to go, don't worry! That's what this post is here for. Hopefully reading this gives you a good idea of what environment is right for you. Here are some factors to consider.
Factor #1) Are you willing to learn another language?
This is a big one! Remember, you'll most likely be going to school while abroad- so being able to understand what you're being taught is really important. It can also be very frustrating to have a language barrier (especially when you're in places like Japan or China where English isn't spoken at all by some of the population) and struggle to communicate with your host family. Although it may be hard to make friends and understand everything at school in the beginning, you will feel super accomplished by the end of your stay! If you work hard, you will most likely be confident in speaking the language conversationally and be somewhat fluent! Just keep in mind that their are some pretty big pros and cons with going to a country that speaks another language. It's important to consider how important those things are to you.
Factor #2) Is receiving a high quality education one of your top priorities?
This may not be something everything worries about, but it's important to keep in mind. Every country has a different education system, and the quality of learning varies greatly depending on where you go. Wealthy countries in places like North America and Northern Europe tend to have better schools than low income countries with poor economies. If it's important to you that you don't fall behind during your time abroad I recommend researching your prospective country before committing to anything.
Factor #3) Are you willing to live in an extremely different climate?
Sure, Finland has incredible schools and wonderful people, but are you willing to live in a place that has an average temperature of -5 degrees F in the winter months? Hong Kong is very diverse and an amazing melting pot of culture, but are you used to environments with high amounts of air pollution? It may not be your first thought, but it's definitely something to think about! Going to a country with a completely different climate and location can cause major speed bumps when it comes to settling in. Altitude sickness, allergies and colds are all very common side effects of moving to a new atmosphere.
Factor #4) What are your values? Are you willing to be flexible?
Everyone values things differently. What may be important to you in your community may not even be available in another country. Think about the hobbies, extra-curricular activities and programs you are involved in. For example, if you play American Football at home you're most likely going to have to give that up if you study abroad. Access to certain religious resources may be limited, such as a Christian church in most Asian countries. How do you identify? Some places are more LGBTQ+ friendly than others. You don't have to sacrifice your values in order to learn about someone else's.
That's the end of this two part post! I hope these points helped you if you're struggling to find the program or country that's right for you. Good luck!
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