The Pros & Cons of Studying Abroad as a Freshman

A study abroad experience is most commonly taken during either junior or senior year of university. However, there are programs specifically designed for first-year college students interested in starting their university career abroad.

A bold attitude and determination are prerequisites for studying abroad as a freshman. There are some drawbacks, but to many, these are negligible when compared with the benefits.

Here are some of the main benefits and challenges you will likely experience traveling and studying overseas as a first-year university student, as well as useful ways to maximize your experience overseas.

Living in a dormitory or with parents doesn’t exactly scream adulthood the way that finding yourself on an unknown street abroad, navigating in a new language, and successfully immersing yourself with a new culture does.

During the portion of my freshman year that I spent on campus, I quickly found that being car-less and residing in a tiny dorm room wasn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Trust me, you’re not missing out on much by opting to spend half or all of your freshman year abroad. Rather, you’re likely to have an even more memorable experience than if you stayed. Living alone overseas might seem intimidating, especially if it’s your first time abroad, but the journey will ultimately help you learn to fend for yourself. Necessity will make you mature faster and you’ll return with a renewed sense of self.

While your peers are enjoying their first year out of high school, settling into their dorms, making new friends, and going to parties, you’ll be far away, missing out on all of the “normal” college experiences. FOMO (fear of missing out) might set in as soon as you leave and hear about the cool stuff your friends are doing.

Depending on where you choose to study abroad, house parties may not be an option. The academics might be significantly more challenging or too easy. The area could be difficult to navigate, or, worst-case scenario, you won’t connect with your international classmates.

Spending a semester abroad as a freshman will increase your cultural competency, build your character, and give you a better sense of the world around you. This is not only a resume-builder but allows you the opportunity to study abroad a second (or third time in my case) while still completing an undergraduate degree. You might even become an international studies major! In almost every case, you’ll catch the travel bug and it won’t be the last time you venture overseas.

You may not want to hear it -- or believe it -- but being 18 or 19 is still a naive stage in life. If you’re anything like me, you won’t realize how great your freshman study abroad experience is until it’s over.

Years after I returned from Hong Kong, I realized that I hardly took advantage of my time there. I only befriended a few locals, I barely spoke a word of Cantonese, and I never ventured to mainland China or truly understood their culture.

If you can break free from the exchange student bubble by studying the language and attempt to immerse yourself within the country’s culture, you can overcome this “con.” Spend time with locals, eat the regional cuisine, travel if you can, and engage in the culture. You won’t regret any of it later -- in fact, you’ll only look back more fondly on those memories.

There is no better way to learn a language than being forced to use it in everyday life. There’s no better way to use it in everyday life than studying abroad while you’re a student.

You can learn a year’s worth of language classes in a month or two if you buckle down and commit to studying while you’re overseas. When I returned from my second round of studying abroad in Japan after only a summer, I tested out of two semesters of Japanese courses at my university. This offset the cost of attending a summer language course abroad and made graduating in time with a Japanese minor possible. Becoming more proficient in the language of the country I studied in also helped me bond with my Japanese peers and understand the nuances of their culture.

If learning or mastering a new language is a priority for you, studying abroad as a freshman is a great way to progress toward this goal.

Unfortunately, homesickness is a reality for almost everyone who spends a significant amount of time abroad. It’s a reality that being away from your home, friends, family, and familiar way of life can create unpleasant feelings.

Loneliness tends to be an issue for people living overseas. I always felt somewhat alienated coming into a new country where I don’t know anyone. I would find myself focused on everything I had (temporarily) left behind rather than what was right in front of me. Try not to obsess over your friends leaving you behind while you’re gone. They’ll probably be thrilled to see you when you return and catch up on your adventures.

If you start feeling homesick, open up to a classmate, roommate, or advisor, and frequently check in with your friends and family. Send each other care packages of sweets, photos, small gifts, anything that will give you that warm, fuzzy nostalgia for home. More importantly, work to create a social support network of people in your area.

Regardless of where you study, forming relationships with your peers will benefit you for many years to come. This is especially true if you study abroad with fellow first-year university students from around the world, as you’ll be having this unique experience together!

Despite getting stuck in the exchange student bubble my first time overseas, I still regularly communicate with the friends I made in Hong Kong, including the locals. They live all over the world: Poland, Germany, China, Taiwan, England, Scotland, Australia… The list goes on. I’ve had the opportunity to visit some of them. They’ve given me free beds to sleep on, tours of their communities, a local perspective, and camaraderie unique from my friends at home.

If there is one piece of advice that I hope you take away from this list, it is that you should make a point to stay close to your international friends. Don’t let those relationships fade when you leave. Send messages, write letters, talk via Skype, whatever it takes to maintain your global companions.

Like homesickness, entering into another culture while you’re still fresh out of high school can feel isolating. The adjustment period is usually a bit awkward and clumsy. This is temporary, but culture shock will come and go as you have new experiences.

On my first day in Hong Kong, I went to a restaurant after 22 hours of flying. The temperature on that day was a muggy 95ºF. They only served hot soups at this restaurant, there was no air conditioning, and the server brought me boiling hot water to drink with my meal. I’ll never forget how miserable I felt; tired and dripping sweat. Nevertheless, the soup was delicious, and the experience was an authentic one. Don’t expect everything to feel like a vacation.

When you return home from studying abroad as a freshman, you’ll have a major life skill mastered. Being adaptable will serve you well for the rest of college and throughout your life and career. The best way to learn adaptability is through immersion, and study abroad is one of the best cultural immersions you can experience as a college student.

Immerse yourself in the regional cuisine. Try everything and eat mindfully. Another benefit of studying abroad (in most countries) is that you don’t have to be 21 to consume alcohol. Consume responsibly and take advantage of this without destroying your health or your reputation, and have a safety net of friends when you go out. Make sure to also have adventures that don’t involve alcohol.

Embrace the environment: hike, bike, climb, kayak, swim, ski, or just be outside. See the sights: visit museums, landmarks, gardens, and attend local festivals. Use this time to gain perspective on your own culture as well as others. Come home with stories, and don’t be afraid to play tourist and take loads of photos. You’ll be glad you did.

After returning from Hong Kong, I switched my major to East Asian studies and continued to live, work, and study in East Asia. I could have never predicted how much of an impact this time abroad would have on my future if I hadn’t taken the initiative. After graduating college, I went on to work in Japan. Currently, I work to support refugees from all over the world in making a sustainable livelihood in the United States. If I didn’t go to Hong Kong six years ago, my life probably would have gone in another direction, and I can’t imagine a more enriching path.

If this has inspired you to study abroad as a first-year university student, start your research today. Programs like Verto Education provide students the resources and experience to successfully study abroad, and offer programs tailored directly towards students looking to "start college differently."