This is a bit of a tricky question, since the biggest challenge will depend on your personality and how you deal with different situations and contexts, as well as where you're going to study abroad.
In general, though, the biggest challenge for first-time students abroad is dealing with culture shock, whenever and however it happens. It's pretty hard to prepare yourself for something you've never experienced before, but there are ways to try to make the experience a little less rough. Just knowing that it'll probably happen to you at some point is an important step toward surviving that infamous culture shock curve and emerging out the other side. Here's a bit more on culture shock and study abroad: https://www.gooverseas.com/blog/how-to-deal-with-culture-shock-while-studying-abroad
Adapting to a different educational system can also be a big challenge, especially if it's very different from what you're used to. When I studied abroad, I took classes at the huge public university in Buenos Aires, and was perpetually shocked at how students (and professors!) showed up to class late, or how student groups would interrupt class all the time to make announcements about events that week -- things that would NEVER have happened at my undergrad university back in the States! It took a while to adjust to this new environment, even without worrying about getting graded on just one final paper written in my second language.
There are also potential issues of dealing with homesickness and financial concerns, which can be tough if you've never had to do that before. That being said, the fact you're even thinking about this means you have a big head start. As long as you're prepared and learn as much as possible about your destination and program before you get there, you'll be ready to face any challenges the semester throws at you!
Answer
1. language and communication difficulties
2. culture differences
3. the feeling of no close friends
4. the visa issue
5. local regulations
Hey! Travelish is a great facebook group to join with other current, future and former study abroad students
Hi Zachary,
This is a bit of a tricky question, since the biggest challenge will depend on your personality and how you deal with different situations and contexts, as well as where you're going to study abroad.
In general, though, the biggest challenge for first-time students abroad is dealing with culture shock, whenever and however it happens. It's pretty hard to prepare yourself for something you've never experienced before, but there are ways to try to make the experience a little less rough. Just knowing that it'll probably happen to you at some point is an important step toward surviving that infamous culture shock curve and emerging out the other side. Here's a bit more on culture shock and study abroad: https://www.gooverseas.com/blog/how-to-deal-with-culture-shock-while-studying-abroad
Adapting to a different educational system can also be a big challenge, especially if it's very different from what you're used to. When I studied abroad, I took classes at the huge public university in Buenos Aires, and was perpetually shocked at how students (and professors!) showed up to class late, or how student groups would interrupt class all the time to make announcements about events that week -- things that would NEVER have happened at my undergrad university back in the States! It took a while to adjust to this new environment, even without worrying about getting graded on just one final paper written in my second language.
There are also potential issues of dealing with homesickness and financial concerns, which can be tough if you've never had to do that before. That being said, the fact you're even thinking about this means you have a big head start. As long as you're prepared and learn as much as possible about your destination and program before you get there, you'll be ready to face any challenges the semester throws at you!