As many readers know, my oldest son is currently in college. My husband and I always imagined that our kids would study abroad in college, just as we did. I spent ~5 months in Guatemala during college, and my husband had two study abroad sessions in the UK.
I love study abroad programs because they give students the chance to see another country (maybe more than one) and gain some independence. Plus, traveling without your parents is a whole new experience.
We’ve talked to our kids about studying abroad in college (or in high school if the opportunity presented itself), and my kids have always been excited about it. However, now that my son is college, his excitement for studying abroad has waned.
The Case Against Studying Abroad
My son’s new perspective is this: Thanks to my traveling on miles hobby, he has already seen many other countries. He is well-traveled. The last two summers, we have explored Europe. He’s been to Mexico several times, New Zealand, Australia, Costa Rica and many Caribbean nations. His university has a campus in Italy where many of its study abroad sessions are based, but my son already toured Italy with us this past summer.
From my perspective, study abroad programs (especially the summer ones) are a bit pricey compared to the trips we usually take as a family. Some programs have group airfare built into the price, which we normally don’t incur due to using miles.
On the Other Hand…
I still think studying abroad is important, even if you’ve traveled to many places before. First of all, when else in your life can you just take a few months off to live in a different country? Many people’s jobs don’t allow for that. But, college is the perfect time for it. Plus, we’re still paying for his travel while he’s in college!
In addition, I think there is value in traveling with peers and without your family. You are forced to make new connections and rely on yourself more.
I understand why my son is hesitant to study abroad in Italy. But, I hope he will consider one of his university’s exchange programs in a different location in Europe or in Asia.
Readers, what is your opinion of study abroad programs if you’ve already traveled extensively?
Author: Nancy
Nancy lives near Dallas, Texas, with her husband and three kids. Her favorite vacations include the beach, cruising and everything Disney.
Don’t forget about culture and language development. Nothing beats a homestay.
@Talchinsky Yes, homestays offer a lot! That’s how I spent my time in Guatemala.
I agree with some others, the culture that you get to see is very different than that of a regular tourist. I only went to Peru for 2.5 weeks. It was a college group and I was the oldest at almost 50 but we were teaching in Peru. What an experience I had and I could never have gotten it any other way. I wish I could have stayed for a month or two. The cultural enrichment can not be replaced or experience on a family vacation.
Although not exactly studying abroad, I have experienced something similar with my high school student, whose school has a mandatory trip annually “to broaden horizons”. As you say, the trips are quite pricey and my son, who visited every continent before the age of 13, is singularly unenthused. In his case though it’s not an option.:)
My mom was a mad traveler and dragged the 4 of us around the world. As I got older I begged to stay home and at 16, finally was allowed to skip an epic Scotland trip (regrettably!) However, the travel mindset was instilled in me and I traveled the world with my two homeschooled kids until they were teens (Covid, but even before that a shift towards focusing on being with peers).
Our life was built around traveling to the extent that it’s been hard for me to conceive of it otherwise. However I remember my own not-wanting-to-travel teen experience and hope that we’ll have more trips in the future. At the very least, I feel I’ve given them a valuable perspective on the world.
Not re studying abroad exactly, but perhaps adjacent, as to how well-traveled kids integrate their experiences into their travel interests going forward.
@Audrey Thanks for sharing your perspective. Interesting about your son’s mandatory high school trips! My sons both wanted to travel less as they got into their teen years, and I’ve let them stay home on some trips while I’ve traveled with my daughter. However, now my middle son is missing travel a bit and says he can’t wait for our trip to Chicago next month.