Office of Study Abroad & International Exchange
Office located at 722 West Maple Street, on the University of Arkansas Campus.
Office located at 722 West Maple Street, on the University of Arkansas Campus.
Why Study Abroad?
10 Reasons for Study Abroad
There are countless reasons why everyone should study abroad. Here are the top ten according to AllAbroad.us:
- See the world and broaden your experience.
"There is so much that can be written about my experience of studying in Växjö, Sweden, much more than simply all of my travels andadventures. However, all the words in the world could not begin to describe the insight and personal experience I have gained from living, speaking, becoming a part of the Swedish culture. Not only did it open my mind to a more global perspective, it also gave me a deeper understanding of the different kinds of people and cultures that exist outside of America. I can say without a doubt that my semester abroad has been a truly enriching and inspiring part of my life." UA Student in Vaxjo, Sweden
- Gain a new perspective on your own country.
“As a tourist you don’t spend enough time just living in the host country to begin to appreciate its cultural quirks and examine your own.” UA Student in La Rochelle, France
- Explore your heritage.
- Learn a language in a country where it is spoken.
“I had an incredible experience. When I returned, my Spanish classes became much more beneficial. Not only did my grades improve, but I just have such a greater appreciation for the culture as a whole.” UA Student in Valparaiso, Chile
“My teachers were excellent and really pushed us so that by the end I could have a serious conversation in Arabic and truly hear the language.” UA Student in Marakesh, Morocco
- Improve your professional and financial potential.
“It’s a great way to learn more about a different culture and see how the healthcare system works & impacts that culture.”
UA Student in Joenkoeping, Sweden
“A great instructor who is so full of knowledge about China! I got a lot out of his interesting stories about business and other info on China. I learned so much from Dr. Waller’s accounts and experiences in China. His connections to business contacts in China makes for great company visits and dialog with multi-nationals and expats who have personally seen China change since it opened up.” UA Student in Shanghai/Beijing, China
“China is on track to become an economic superpower. Having experience on your resume will definitely help you. The experience was one of the best I have had to date.” UA Student in Shanghai/Beijing, China
"The hospitality industry is hard to learn in a book. Hospitality is about experiences, openness, personal goals and hard work. I learned the reality of tourism and the idea that hospitality is not just common sense.”
UA Student in Switzerland, The Netherlands, France and Italy
- Become a full-time learner.
"Though you won’t be able to change the world or even accomplish broad project goals like community development, you will learn alotabout how hard change is to accomplish and what you have to do when things go wrong, both valuable to know." UA Student in Dangriga, Belize
“I saw where Paul walked and taught. Saw the things I’ve learned about in my life, materialized before my eyes; amazing.”
UA Student in Athens, Greece
“Seeing another culture everyday and realizing how vast and different the world is, I know I can handle myself in any situation having been successful in this experience.” UA Student in Madrid, Spain
- Gain new insights and outlooks through new relationships.
"If you live with a host family, be adaptable – you can’t go and expect it to be like home. Be thankful for what you have and realize that you are in someone else’s home.”
UA Student in Paris, France
"If you spend your time in a foreign country watching TV or keeping to yourself, you won’t maximize this unique opportunity. If and when you study abroad, go into the country with an open mind and appreciate the rich diversity the world has to offer."
UA Student in Athens & Santorini, Greece
- Fight stereotypes by educating others.
I am finally ready to talk about the one thing that everyone wants to know: What it is like being African-American (although I like "brown" better) in China. I get staring, people laughing at me for what reason I don't know and some kids just running away at the first sight of me. That kind of thing does not do much for one's self esteem. I never would have imagined that I would be so sensitive to such things.
I became very angry and always asked what people's deal was with me. I would say, "OK, you guys act like you have never seen a brown person before." The fact is, 95 percent of them have not, and the other 5 percent have only seen brown people on television having to do with either music or sports.
I had to just step back from myself and rethink the situation. How would I react in the same situation? I really could not answer that question because I live in a part of the United States where I am exposed to almost every culture, and what I lack in my city I can pick up on TV or independent research.
America, I have just taken you for granted...yikes! After much discussion and thought, my mindset has changed. I love being different in the United States, and being in China does not change one thing. All the seemingly negative things that I encounter on a daily basis do not bother me anymore. I am still on a mission for my Chinese friends to impress them with my language skills and just kick it on the weekends.
I never know what will happen next, and that is what makes it so much fun. I love being here, and nothing beats the experience.
UA Student in Chengdu, China
- Dispel your own stereotypes.
"My international experience helped me to really understand who and what I am as an American. I was able to see just how different people on the other side of the world are and I found out they are not that different from the way we are. I believe that this is the greatestpart of an international experience: to be able to see yourself the way the rest of the world sees you and to be able to see the rest of the world as it sees itself." UA Student in Yokohama & Matsue, Japan
“I feel before I was really sheltered, more so than I thought I was, and going to South Africa showed me how big and exciting and different the rest of the world is.” UA Student in Johannesburg & Cape Town, South Africa
- Take control of your future.
For more reasons why everyone should study abroad, click on the following:
Selected Excerpts Courtesy of AllAbroad.us