Choosing the Perfect Study Abroad Location
One of the major decisions that comes with studying abroad is, of course, finding the perfect destination for this incredible experience. At first, it can be a bit intimidating because there are so many great options for educational opportunities all over the world. What I found helped me the most was making a list of specific qualities that I was looking for in a destination and school to narrow down my options. The factors that were included in my list were: Language & Culture, Geographical Interest, Area of Study & Accreditation.
Language & Culture
This component relates to choosing a country that speaks a language that you’d like to learn or are already familiar with. For example, I already have basic communication skills in Spanish and French so I knew I wanted to go somewhere that spoke mainly English, Spanish, or French. Learning foreign languages is such a valuable skill so I definitely recommend challenging yourself to practice a language different than your native one. If you took a Spanish class in high school but feel like you lost it, this is a great opportunity to brush up and fully immerse yourself in the language. If you have roots in Latin America but never had the chance to be as fluent as you wanted, this is a perfect chance to feel closer to that part of yourself and your heritage. If you’ve always been interested in the German language and want to get the full experience, this is that opportunity. Language is a huge factor in choosing the perfect study abroad location and it opens the door to so much potential for growth and learning.
Another crucial aspect in choosing a location is the culture. This relates to customs, religion, mannerisms, style, food, music, and so much more. It is crucial to research and have some awareness of the culture of the area that you want to go to so that you’re not uncomfortable once you get there or offend locals. It is important to recognize that something that may be normal in your home country may be disrespectful or make you stick out in a different place. For example, clothing trends vary around the world. Although when I lived in Florida it was normal to go grocery shopping in athletic wear and walk around with an oversized T-shirt that covered my shorts, once I moved to France I quickly realized that made me stand out as a foreigner. When I looked around I noticed how everyone took so much pride in their appearance, at school I would see girls in heels, walking the streets I would see trench coats, and men in button-ups, I felt like I was in a different world. Although it took me by surprise, it turned out to be perfect for me because when I take pride in how I look, I feel better on the inside too. However, that is not the same for everyone, so it’s important to make sure you know what you are signing up for.
When I was in high school and dreaming about studying abroad, I had always wanted to study in Europe. I had visited both France and Spain several times and absolutely fell in love. If you have had the opportunity to visit a place of interest, that could help you a lot because you’ve already experienced the culture and seen a bit of what it would be like living there. It’s inevitable to experience culture shock when living in a new place, but culture shock is manageable. Try to prepare yourself by learning about the place that you’d like to go to beforehand!
Area of Study & Accreditation
After deciding which parts of the world I wanted to study in, I needed to think about the academic side. I knew I wanted to continue studying business. In Florida, I was studying Global Business with a concentration in Marketing, and I was really interested in continuing in that route. As a transfer student who studied abroad in her last year of university, this was how my journey went, but for recent high school graduates who are looking to go abroad for their studies, it may look a bit different. If you know what you want to study, I recommend looking up schools that are recognized for their programs in that area of study. If you do not know what you want to study yet, that is totally normal, I recommend finding schools in areas that interest you and reading about their programs to see what intrigues you or makes you the most excited! Choosing a major seems like a lot of pressure, but don’t let that stop you from getting excited. There are so many opportunities and interesting programs just out there waiting for you. Anyways, the academics are important! It’s good to know if the university has any successful alumni in your area of interest, or if the program has a lot of students or a small amount, or if the location you want even has a school that offers the program that you are interested in. Try to envision what career you want, what you are the most interested in, maybe a hobby that you’d like to turn into a career, and that is a good start to choosing an area of study and then finding a university that offers the perfect program to fit what you’re looking for.
From my experience, it was important to me that the degree that I graduated with was recognized internationally and accredited. International accreditation shows high-quality programs and institutions, which would make me feel more reassured with the decision to choose a school. The business school that I chose to attend was accredited by three prestigious international associations (AACSB, AAMBA, EQUIS) that recognized its high-quality business education. Before my research, I had no idea what “Triple Crown” meant, so let me inform you so that you are aware. A school with ‘Triple Crown’ accreditation means that it is accredited by the three most important and prestigious accreditation agencies in business education: The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), the Association of MBAs (AMBA), and EFMD Quality Improvement System (EQUIS). These accreditations show the highest quality in business schools and an elevated global reputation. This was a crucial factor for me because I wanted to make sure that even though I was graduating from an institution abroad, it would still be acknowledged and recognized if I decided to work in the United States or another country, so it’s definitely something to consider.
The Community & Values
Once I selected my top choices of schools and programs I was able to do more in-depth research on the cities where the schools were located and each school’s communities. I chose Montpellier because it is a small but modern city, easily walkable, with a large population of young adults and students. I had heard that Montpellier was a student city and very safe, which made it very appealing especially as a young woman coming from overseas. When I told my friend who lived in Montpellier that I was considering going to the business school there she told me how friendly everyone is and reassured me of its safety. It also didn’t hurt that I’ve only heard amazing things about the South of France.
When I researched the business school that I was interested in, a super important thing that I was looking for was diversity. Coming in as an international student, I wanted to feel supported and comfortable in the school’s community and I wanted to know that I would be surrounded by different backgrounds and cultures. Leaping into this opportunity would open my eyes to a whole world of different perspectives, beliefs, and ways of thinking. Going to a school that prides itself in its diversity and global community taught me so much about the world that I would not have learned otherwise. I aligned with the school’s values of ethics, openness and diversity, and global responsibility and performance. I went into my school search looking for institutions that valued diversity, inclusion, and a global perspective. I recommend making a list of what you want in a school, aside from academics, but within the broader community. Do you align with its values? Can you see yourself growing and learning from the people in the community? Does it have a club or association that you are interested in? These are just a few things to consider when researching the universities.
Geographical Interest
Lastly, can you picture yourself living there? After you decide on a handful of places you’re interested in living culture-wise and academics-wise, it’s important to reflect on each school’s location to see if it is suited for you and your preferences. For example, when I was looking at potential schools, I looked in Canada and Australia in addition to Spain and France. I was interested in them because they are both beautiful places that for the most part are English-speaking. However, I am a warm-weather person and I preferred not to have a 15-hour time difference with my friends and family. After living in Texas and Florida, both warm places year-round, I wanted to experience seasons, but I’m not a lover of snow. The weather was a big factor for me because personally, my mood is extremely dependent on the sky, I don’t know the reason but when the sun is out I feel happier. Maybe you feel the opposite, then that is an important thing to take into account because you wouldn’t want to be in a place that is sunny and hot every day. When you feel good you’re more productive and more confident!
Maybe you live in a city inland and always wanted to live someplace with a beach, or you live in a small town and have always wanted to experience life in a big city, the physical location of where you study plays a huge role in your experience. This could be the opportunity to experience life in a place that you have always dreamed of, near mountains, an area with a lot of nature, an area where it is easy to travel to other countries, etc. This was a big factor in me considering Montpellier, it’s in the South of France so relatively sunny, it’s near the Mediterranean Sea, and it’s in Europe so it’s relatively easy to travel around to other countries. This is the time to imagine how you could take advantage of living somewhere new and exploring a new corner of the world.
