Your next academic adventure could take place in France, Spain, Costa Rica, Italy, Ireland, even South Africa -- CEA Study Abroad has destinations in 22 cities around the globe. Where will you go?
Check out these 21 reasons to study abroad with CEA in 2021.
1. You owe it to yourself!
How many times have you heard someone say, "I wish I would have done..."? Don't be that person. GO! You'll regret it if you don't.
2. Discover your new favorite food.
(Or, your new favorite version of your favorite food.) Trust us: pizza, paella, pasta, and pain au chocolat taste SO much better in their home countries.
3. Make lifelong friends.
The friendships you foster while abroad can last a lifetime! Whether you go abroad with acquaintances from your school or venture overseas without knowing a soul -- you’ll form a bond with these newfound friends. Together you’ll conquer (and laugh about) language barriers and travel, and eat well and learn.
4. Hone your cooking skills!
Or, maybe you don't have cooking skills. When you study abroad, you'll be able to participate in cooking workshops and classes. Then, you can impress your parents and friends when you return home and "whip up" your new signature dish!
5. Become a leader.
According to Forbes, a recent study revealed the correlation between living abroad and gaining clarity from self-discerning reflections -- leading to multi-layered benefits including "career success, appreciation for diverse cultural backgrounds, and expanded perspectives which improves decision-making, stress-management, and job performance.”
6. Put your budding language skills to use.
Dust off your high school Spanish or French and impress yourself with how much you DO know! Or, pick up a new language. I'm pretty sure no one ever regretted learning Italian. Allora...
7. See it, smell it, touch it... in real life!
Nothing beats walking to class in the Piazza della Repubblica and stopping at your favorite coffee bar for a quick espresso. YUM! Plus, think of all the art, architecture, parks, and interesting things that await you! Seeing the "Mona Lisa" in real life... c'est parfait !
8. LOVE.
You might just find the love of your life, and it doesn't have to be a person đŸ˜‰. You could find the city of your dreams to call your future home.
9. Enjoy real-life cultural experiences.
Instead of seeing pics on your friend's Instagram feed about celebrating Feria in Spain, go have that experience yourself. Each country/city/culture has their own unique celebrations that you don't want to miss!
10. Don't just think global -- BE global.
It's one thing to read or hear about the issues of today. Experiencing them and understanding how other people, countries, cultures and governments approach those same issues is truly eye-opening.
11. Take part in the local customs and celebrations, and make them yours.
Celebrate stuff, for real. Why enjoy Oktoberfest in Michigan when you can do it in Germany?!
12. Develop your life skills.
Planning those weekend trips while staying on budget, and turning in your homework on time foster organizational, planning, and budgeting skills that will set you up for life!
13. Build resilience.
Studying abroad will throw so many obstacles your way (just as life does!). Learn who you are and what you're made of, do the things you didn't think you could do -- you might just surprise yourself! Personal growth comes from self-reliance and facing new, unique challenges in a new place. Read “How Study Abroad Saved Me,” an inspiring and heartwarming story captured by a London study abroad alumna.
14. Dive into a new learning environment.
Whether you're studying engineering in Dublin, international business in Buenos Aires or another program, you'll be learning both inside and outside the classroom. Excursions, cooking classes, language exchange activities and other cultural immersion opportunities await you in 2021!
15. Explore a new home away from home.
Any study abroad program experience comes with an adjustment period and at least a few stages of culture shock, but your new destination will soon start to feel like a second home.
16. Change your perspective for the better.
Studying abroad is a life-changing experience, and it will give you the opportunity to see life from a different reality.
17. Check off items on your bucket list!
Because how else would you be about an hour and half plane ride, bus ride or train ride away from the Mediterranean or the mountains or ancient ruins?
18. Learn more about yourself.
You will gain a deeper understanding of your own home culture when you´re immersed in a foreign culture.
19. Add to your resume.
Showing future employers that you’ve had an international education positions you as a well-rounded candidate. Whether you honed your foreign-language fluency, pursued an internship abroad, created content for CEA’s channels as a MOJO (Mobile Journalist), or took courses that align with your major, you’ll be able to easily talk about these in an interview setting.
20. Shape your career.
The benefits of studying or interning abroad extend far beyond the moment you return home, as evidenced by this alumna’s story: “How Studying Abroad Shaped My Future Career.”
21. Build your own story.
Studying abroad opens new opportunities for fun adventures that will sound amazing when you tell your kids one day or write your memoir.
Find your dream program, and submit your application to study and/or intern abroad with CEA in 2021!