Q: I’m struggling to decide where to study abroad. I found a program that looks really interesting, but all my closest friends are picking a program all together in a different country. I know I’d have an amazing time with my friends and I don’t want to miss out on fun and bonding time with them, but I also don’t want to miss out on an opportunity that could be better for my future. How do I decide whether to go with my friends or do my own thing?
Dear Reader,
This is a big decision, and I completely understand why you’re feeling torn. We’ve all seen the Instagram posts of full friend groups abroad together having a blast. But, I’ve also talked to so many people who went abroad alone and had the time of their lives. Studying abroad is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and the prospect of sharing it with all your closest friends is undeniably very appealing. On the other hand, at the end of the day, it is your education and your future.
If you’re already torn between these two options I’m inclined to recommend that you go with your own program. That being said, FOMO is SO real and so is feeling nervous to get out of your comfort zone. It’s really a question of which you value more: having a sense of familiarity in a different country or pushing yourself to be more independent. Do some self-reflection and question if the reason you want to go with your friends is because you’re scared of losing those friendships. If that’s the case, then definitely don’t go with them; a friendship should absolutely be able to last a semester apart. And if it doesn’t, that just might be for the best.
The plus side of doing your own thing for study abroad is that you have an easy excuse to travel and visit your friends! Make a concrete plan to meet up with everyone to ease your nerves about not going with them. Another plus is making new friends from all new places. Not only is there the potential to meet your next best friend, but this can also open up more opportunities to travel in the future to visit those new friends! Traveling solo also lets you be more spontaneous than traveling with a group would allow; you get to do whatever you want, whenever you want.
You could always go to the study abroad office and get their opinion, but I’d bet money that they would tell you to prioritize your education. My personal experience with the study abroad office is that they haven’t been the most helpful. However, it should be noted that the first time I went in I had absolutely no direction in mind, and the second time I knew exactly where I wanted to go. I can only assume that if you go in with specific questions they’d be helpful.
No matter what program you choose, it is what you make of it. If you go into study abroad with an open mind and a willingness to explore, you can’t go wrong.
Wishing you the adventure of a lifetime,
Annabel Groseclose