Pros and Cons of Studying Abroad

If you ask anyone what they missed about life before quarantine, one of the most common answers is traveling. An early sign that the pandemic was a true public concern was when those studying abroad were given strict 24 hour deadlines to flee the country and return home. Although some programs still aren’t back up and running, Cornell is offering various options to take advantage of next semester. Yet, many juniors are skeptical as to whether or not they should take the long awaited semester abroad in the spring. Below are arguments that have been echoed around campus that you can consider if you are on the fence as well:

PROS

            Given a year of being stuck at home, many are more than eager to go country hopping for a couple of months. The prospect of seeing the world beyond Cornell’s campus in upstate New York is a once in a lifetime chance to meet new people, be exposed to new cultures, and lean into independence. Not to sound cliche, but many come back from a semester abroad and won’t stop talking about how it “changed their life,” so there must be something to it.

For students who already have accepted job offers for post-grad (to see this all you have to do is open Linkedin--or, my recommendation is, don’t), there is limited time off available to go on a trip of this magnitude. Many study abroad programs accommodate travel and are not nearly as intense as Cornell’s regular course load.

Some students are also worried about experiencing FOMO if they don’t go abroad. Imagine scrolling on Instagram and seeing pictures of peers boating on the Amalfi Coast or skiing in Switzerland while sitting on the second floor of Mann cramming for a prelim the next day. I know I would be jealous.

CONS

            Others are more inclined to savor their time in Ithaca. Going abroad would mean these students’ first “normal” spring semester would likewise be their last. This extends to only having one in person Slope Day in four years as well. Many want as much time taking classes at Cornell as possible, given the last year and a half’s online classes.

Staying in Ithaca also means not having to adjust to a new school environment in an entirely different country. If your GPA could also use some recovering from freshman fall, staying at Cornell’s campus could be a good option as some of the colleges at Cornell don’t calculate abroad grades into GPA, meaning less time to boost it.

            Furthermore, going abroad is not just a quick week trip. Five months away requires learning new languages, adjusting to time differences, and negotiating cultural changes while staying in touch with other friends. These factors undoubtedly create the potential to be overwhelmed and develop homesickness. Those who stay behind, though, have options like spring break to go and visit their friends abroad if a shorter trip is more desirable.

Ultimately, the decision one makes requires balancing one’s own values. Regardless of the choice made in the end, the Class of 2023 will be back for a fun Fall 2022 semester. As of now, the constant notifications of friends subletting apartments and parking spots in various Facebook groups might be indicative of those leaning in one direction. Guess we’ll just have to check Instagram in a few months to find out who went where.