Choosing to study abroad takes a lot of guts. Not only is there the worry of creating a new life for yourself in a foreign country, but there’s also the pressure of settling into a new educational system. So if you have already decided to jump ship and study abroad, we want to congratulate you on being so bold and courageous.
Now onto the next decision… should you study abroad with a friend? Or should you go it alone? Well, the answer to that is pretty simple – always do what you feel is personally right for you. But to help you decide, here’s a list of pros for each option.
Why should I go alone?
You’ll be your own leader
A year abroad is an opportunity for you to grow as a person, and to do this, you need 100% freedom. If you go it alone, there will be no answering to anyone. You can make your own plans, make your own friends, and do what feels right for you. You’ll have no one telling you what to do or what not to do – it’ll be your own self-discovering journey.
Improve your confidence
Going it alone will force you to take a step out of your comfort zone whether you like it or not. It’s a big world out there, and it takes some guts to explore it on your own. Having no one by your side will push you to do things you wouldn’t normally do, and speak to people you wouldn’t usually speak to. Your self-confidence will sky-rocket, and you will believe in yourself more than you’ve ever done before.
Find your own groove
Studying abroad by yourself will give you time to reflect, giving you the space to focus on your independence. Time away on your own will provide you with endless opportunities and experiences that help you discover who you are and what you want to do. By the time you come back home, you’ll be a bigger, better, and braver person than you were before.
Why should I go with friends?
Strengthen your bond
If you have someone with the same dream as you, then there’s no reason why it wouldn’t be a good idea for you to chase the dream together. Diving off the high board into the deep end together will allow you to build a friendship that you have with no other person. It can be an opportunity for you to connect and learn more about one another, and a time for you to help each other reflect on where you were, who you are, and where you want your life to go next.
Share your memories
There are no greater memories than the ones you make with your friends. The time you spend with your friends is a time for you to have fun and be yourself, so why not study abroad with someone who brings out the best in you? You’ll make some incredible memories together that you can share and look back on for the rest of your life.
Have a back-up
Take it in your stride. Moving abroad is daunting – there’s no doubt about it – so having a friend by your side will ease the worries of the first-day jitters. A big part about studying abroad is meeting new people and expanding your network, so knowing a friend is close by can make you feel far more at ease and willing to make the most of your experience.
If it’s about time you decide what you want to study abroad, where you want to go, and who you want to go with, then remember that whatever decision you make, it’ll always be the right one for you. Trust your instinct and be positive. This is an exciting step for you.
