Many students and parents have the notion that study abroad is really a semester of no work and just fun. When I talked to classmates who have returned from study abroad, they always complain how hard school is. They say that they didn’t try while overseas and are now struggling with having to study and work hard in classes.
This is not to say that a semester abroad is detrimental to students; it is actually quite the opposite. A recent study from the Georgia Learning Outcomes of Students Studying Abroad Research Initiative found that students who participated in education abroad had higher graduation rates and grade point averages. Students who participated in study abroad had a graduation rate of 49 percent compared to that of 42 percent of peers who did not study abroad. Also study abroad students’ GPAs jumped from 3.24 to 3.30 upon returning to the US, but students who did not study abroad saw a GPA change from 3.03 to 3.06.
According to an article from Western Front Online, “Don Rubin, research director for the group, told Inside Higher Ed News this study is proof that international study does not hinder the academic process in any way.
“’The skeptics of study abroad have always made the argument that it is a distraction from the business of getting educated,’ he said. ‘I think if there’s one take-home message from this research as a whole, it’s that it enhances the quality of learning as reflected in things like G.P.A.’”
It seems that students return home with an improved sense of self and increased motivation. While school may be overwhelming upon return from a semester of seemingly easier work, it is apparent that students are better equipped to handle this pressure and overcome obstacles. This is shown by the improvements in GPA and higher graduation rates. While study abroad can be a semester of fun, it is also a semester of skill acquisition that can improve performance in school and everyday situations.
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