Have you considered academic opportunities overseas?
Why study abroad before business school?
Whether it’s for six weeks, six months, or somewhere in between—time spent studying abroad as an undergraduate can confer important lessons for both personal and academic growth. Far more than an extended, adventurous vacation, studying abroad is an opportunity to strengthen existing skills and develop new ones that will carry through to business school and beyond.
If you have already studied abroad or are just now considering it, check out these tips for getting the most out of your international experience and applying them to your everyday life.
Adapt to a new academic culture
Immersing yourself in a different culture means learning how to adapt. You’ll be forced to expand your knowledge and understanding of how to interact in an environment that’s completely unfamiliar—an invaluable lesson for improving your academic and personal success. If you have the chance, visit a city you have never been to before and acquaint yourself with an academic program vastly different from that of your home university. It takes an acceptance of and appreciation for cultural differences to adapt to new learning environments.
Your instructor abroad may, for example, be more outspoken than you’re used to in class, or may teach his or her lessons in ways you would never see at home. Recognizing these differences and viewing them as learning opportunities is a gift that students who study abroad are privileged to have.
Take an international business class
One of the coolest parts of studying abroad is having the chance to take classes that aren’t offered back home. International business classes are particularly useful, and what better time to enroll in them than while studying internationally and experiencing different business practices first-hand? While shopping for groceries, buying clothes, or trying the pastries at the small cafe around the corner, you’ll inevitably pick up on the subtle differences in how businesses operate.
International business classes teach you how global companies tailor their operations to specific cultures; studying abroad lets you experience it. Visit McDonald’s internationally to try a McRice Burger in Singapore or a tasty macaron in Paris. This experiential learning speaks volumes to your character when you enter interviews and shows your commitment to your studies.
Prepare for success after graduation
The Institute for the International Education of Students (IES) conducted a study of 3,400 students who had studied abroad from 1950 to 1999 and found that more than 52 percent had gone on to pursue graduate degrees, while only nine percent of Americans who didn’t study abroad at the time were pursuing graduate degrees.
Living and studying abroad is the time for many students to try new things and learn about themselves. International experiences influence many students’ long-term decisions and inspire them to weigh options they had never previously considered, such as attending business school or moving to a new city after graduation. Your time abroad may fly by, but its impact on your personal and academic development will resonate for years to come.
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The post Studying Abroad Part 1: Personal & Academic Success appeared first on Business School Insider.
