BENEFITS OF STUDY ABROAD

What do Theodore Roosevelt, Maya Angelou and Condoleezza Rice all have in common? These noteworthy figures all studied abroad. The U.S. Senate, recognizing the importance of studying overseas, has designated 2006 as the “Year of Study Abroad.” Although 80 percent of Americans believe it is important for undergraduates to study overseas, only one percent of U.S. undergraduate students study abroad each year according to the Institute for International Education. Our returned students describe their study abroad experience as “a life-changing event.” The benefits of study abroad include everything from personal growth to language fluency to career-related skills. In addition, the costs are affordable and your son or daughter will earn credits that transfer back to USC and apply towards their degree completion.

Not only can your son or daughter take classes not offered in the U.S. and have the opportunity to study topics much more in-depth—like taking art history in Rome with field trips to see art work such as Michelangelo’s frescoes in the Sistine Chapel--but he or she will continue to earn credit towards their degree at USC. Students work with a study abroad advisor and their academic advisor to choose a program that is right for them and will go through a course pre-approval process. If they are studying a foreign language, their fluency will improve by leaps and bounds as they use their language skills on a daily basis. You can also benefit from their fluency when you visit and your son or daughter acts as your translator!

Myths abound that studying abroad is much more expensive than a semester on-campus, but the reality is that depending on your son or daughter’s situation, costs may be the same or even less. To participate in one of our numerous exchange programs, the tuition costs remain the same (in-state tuition is paid to USC) and housing costs are paid directly to the host university. In many instances, the housing costs abroad may be comparable to or even less than housing costs at USC. Financial aid and USC scholarships apply toward the costs of studying abroad for any of our approved programs. Students can also apply for financial aid if their study abroad costs are higher than their USC semester costs. In addition, there are national scholarships specific to studying abroad as well as departmental and affiliate scholarships depending on the study abroad program selected. Last year USC students were awarded nearly $250,000 in scholarships specifically for study abroad.

Although the costs of a program are tangible, the personal growth your son or daughter experiences while abroad may at first be intangible, but will soon become apparent. Imagine being put in a situation completely different from what you are used to, having to adapt to a new environment, a new way of doing things and possibly interacting in a language different than your own. Your son or daughter will develop skills such as independence, cultural awareness, flexibility and problem solving--skills that employers look for. Not only will these skills enhance any undergraduate experience, but will help set them apart once they complete their degree and apply for graduate school or begin their job search. In addition, in a recent study by the Institute of International Education, more than three-fourths of the respondents indicated that they acquired skills that influenced their career path during their study abroad experience. 

Overall, the benefits of studying abroad are endless, from cross-cultural awareness to career development to foreign language fluency. Encourage your son or daughter to become a global citizen by studying abroad. The experience will change their life.