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Editorial: Studying abroad should be a priority for every college student

Ben LaMothe,
Grand Central Magazine, Editor-in-Chief

It’s that thing everyone wants to do, but often does not.

It’s that thing that everyone talks about, but only in a “wouldn’t that be nice” kind of way.

It’s that thing that hypothetically sounds fun, but in reality is quite terrifying.

It’s studying abroad.

I’ve met countless people who fit into any of the three scenarios I just described. They talk about how much they’d love to spend a semester in Spain or London or Tokyo, but quickly follow up with a barrage of reasons for why, in their opinion, it isn’t feasible.

If you’re one of those people, I have a message for you: stop it!

Take it from someone who has studied abroad once and intends to do it again. I understand why studying abroad is scary, but that shouldn’t stop you.

Not even the cost of the program should stop you, since many of the programs that CMU works with abroad have similar tuition costs to what you would spend at home. That excuse doesn’t fly.

Experience is everything. Today employers are interested in more than just what you’ve done professionally or how your grades are. They want to know you have experience on a global scale; that you understand how the world works beyond America’s borders.

From January to April 2006 I lived, worked and studied in Dublin, Ireland. I took courses at Dublin City University, interned at a major city radio station and lived like an ordinary Dubliner. Bring thrust out of my comfort zone like that was both terrifying and exhilarating. And I wouldn’t trade the experiences for anything.

At its core, studying abroad is about learning how to function in a society unlike your own. It’s also about learning things about yourself that you otherwise would not have known. It’s about having an experience that you will never forget.

Though once you do it, you’ll probably want to do it again. It’s happened to most of the people I’ve known who have studied abroad, including myself. I intend to pursue graduate studies in Europe soon.

There’s a good chance you’ve entertained the thought of what it would be like to spend a few months in Europe, Asia, Africa or Oceania. There’s no reason not to turn that dream into a reality.

As a student at CMU, you have a unique opportunity to see the world. I advise you to take it.