Colleges and universities know the value of international experiences and most give preference for admission to students that have studied and lived abroad. By experience, they recognise the maturity and strength that living abroad develops. Having a background as an international exchange student is always highly favourable for scholarship awards. Studying abroad certainly has its advantages.

Many students who had the good fortune of having a first hand experience in studying abroad were able to determine their career interest and their college course of study. The exposures to a different place have made their options clearer and their decisions more determined. Living abroad has a way of developing an understanding of individual interest and goals.

In terms of career, an international program can only work to a person’s advantage. An international experience on a resume can be very eye-catching and attention-holding to potential employers. It implies experience, responsibility, integrity, flexibility and personal strength. These are the very qualities that you would like to show the employers during a job interview. Not everyone has what it takes to successfully complete a foreign study program.

Living abroad also helps to develop leadership qualities and communication skills. A person who has confronted an entirely new environment and handled a new language cannot be easily intimidated by a room of co-workers. Studying and living abroad makes a person learn to strive for things that would otherwise be unthinkable.

International business has become an essential part of the world we live in. Studying abroad is just a preview how interconnected it has become. For students, it is the first step towards working in a global set-up.

The benefits of a foreign study program can be received during and after taking the program. A person has a whole lifetime to use it to maximise individual potentials and opportunities. Learning a foreign language is not just about correct grammar and proper use of words, it is about speaking the words of the country. Relishing the history of a foreign country is not just about historical dates and places; it is about understanding the origins of the people you are interacting with. Taking a course with a foreign curriculum is not about the credits placed on your record, it is about looking into the same course offered by your home school from a different point of view.

Living and studying abroad will definitely be different from living and studying in one’s home country. By anticipating the differences that are bound to be encountered, a student can better help himself/herself be prepared for the unexpected. Flexibility may be the most important virtue that a person can possess during the duration of the program. It could be the one thing that could spell the difference between a disastrous experience and a fulfilling one.

Routines and schedules will change once you are in a different country. Time difference is not the only thing to consider but also the prevailing work schedule in the area. Even meal time may be different from that which you are accustomed to.

The facilities may also be not what you expect it to be. The condition may range from modern to rundown, working or out-of-order or clean to dirty. A student in a foreign land may not always have the luxury of being able to choose, thus you usually just take what you get and deal with it anyway you can.

Some countries have poorer areas that are devoid of any luxury. Facilities need not be new to be safe and useful. You can be your own judge when situations arise that may necessitate the service of hospitals, restaurants, public transportation, apartments or even phone booths.

The signs of modern conveniences can be seen in almost every part of the world except for the very remote areas that remain untouched by development. However, a supermarket in Spain for example, may not have the same items that can be found in a supermarket in UK. ATM machines, Internet hook-ups or microwaves may not be available in some countries. You should learn to compromise if you cannot have exactly what you want.

Co-ed living may be acceptable in some countries but may be offensive to one’s beliefs. Housing accommodations and the rules followed in them should be clarified right at the onset. This would prevent any misunderstanding that could make your stay in a foreign land more difficult than it should be.

Majority of the student program handlers take it upon themselves to observe certain precautionary measures both for their domestic and international programs. However, more emphasis is given on this aspect for international programs because of the necessary risk involved in leaving one’s home country. In fact, some existing programs have been closed in certain global “hot spots” because of the danger of continuing the program in an unstable situation.

Although risk cannot totally be eliminated especially in the turn of recent events, students are provided some tools that would assist them in conducting themselves appropriately for a safe and enjoyable experience. Program handlers are in touch with their programs on a regular basis. Thus, any emergency situation can be swiftly remedied or provided the necessary course of action. Students are fully informed during orientation and subsequent conversations of the proper procedure to follow in times of crisis.

Students are required to carry an ID that also lists phone numbers to call in cases of emergency. It also provides information about the student in the foreign country’s language specifically for non-English speaking countries. Program directors can easily be contacted thru cell phones which they are required to carry at all times and the students are properly informed of the contact numbers.

Program directors usually have staff from the host country or close relationship with nationals who help them constantly monitor the situation. These directors speak the language of the host country and live on a long term basis in the host country. Students are encouraged to blend in with the local landscape and not to act as obvious foreigners to enhance their safety.

Program providers have developed their own contingency plans and procedures that seek to address emergency situations. Suitable alternatives for the completion of the full semester of the study are offered in the event of an emergency evacuation. However, should an alternative site and learning setting not be available, a corresponding refund in tuition and other fees is given. Responsible student program providers conduct regular meetings to tackle emergency planning and safety issues. These are all being done for the safety and protection of students who have come a long way to learn.