As I entered my junior year, I struggled with the decision to go abroad. I hadn’t gotten into the program I wanted in Madrid, and while I was still excited about the prospect of going to Barcelona, I didn’t have any friends going to the same program. I was weighing my options and deciding what was best for me academically and professionally—to stay in Syracuse and continue working for The Daily Orange, or to take the leap and explore Europe for a semester.
I’m so thankful I chose the latter and went to Europe because those four months were some of the best experiences of my life, but I wish there had been someone to give me advice back then! So here’s my personal manifesto on why you must go abroad if you’re able to. I remember what it was like to have anxieties about what I would miss out on if I didn’t make the right choice, so hopefully this gives you the guidance you’re looking for.
While I could write essays about this, for the sake of time, I’ve consolidated my thoughts on why you should go abroad into six different reasons you should make the leap!
1. You Will Learn So Much
While going abroad may limit your course options or ability to graduate early, it paves the way for new learning. As a senior, I’m bummed that I couldn’t take a fun class with the rest of my friends or pick up a minimal 9-credit course load. However, the lessons I learned while studying in another country, meeting new people and adjusting to different cultures are much more valuable than a light class schedule for my final semester.
2. The Connections You Make Are Invaluable
Before I boarded that flight to Barcelona, I had no idea what I was getting myself into—living with seven other girls, none of whom I was very close with. Little did I know I would bring those friendships back home with me. Nothing bonds you like getting lost in the French Alps together or staying up until 7 a.m. exploring the streets of Barcelona and dancing with locals!
Aside from roommates, you will meet so many people while traveling, especially if you’re staying in hostels and going on social outings. I had a pen pal in Barcelona and we still talk from time to time; she taught me some Spanish, and I helped her with English. I also went to Florence sophomore year—because going abroad once wasn’t enough—and I stayed with a host family. Alessandra and Mitch were the best host parents I could ask for, and now, whenever I find myself in Italy again, I’ll recognize some familiar faces and have a place to stay!
3. The Places You’ll Go and the Things You’ll Eat
I’ve always loved to travel, so this was a no-brainer for me. Trying new food and exploring new places, from beaches with crystal clear water to cities with centuries of history engraved in their walls, was so intriguing to me. While I was in Barcelona, most of my classes took field trips to museums, cafes and neighborhoods where we learned about Catalan culture and history.
Outside of the classroom, the city became our campus. We spent hours wandering around different neighborhoods, discovering local restaurants and unique shops. When you’re abroad, everything is about the experience and exploring new things. That’s how we found some of the best authentic spots, hidden away from the beaten path!
4. Limited Opportunities to Live Abroad After College
College offers a rare window of opportunity: the chance to live abroad without the strings of a 9-to-5 attached. Once you graduate, the flexibility to spend months immersing yourself in a new culture becomes much harder to find. Take advantage of this unique student visa status while you can! Very few career paths will ever offer you the same freedom to call a foreign city “home” and truly live like a local.
5. It Expands Academic and Career Prospects Tenfold
It’s true that going abroad might mean putting your participation in student orgs or other extracurriculars on hold. For me, that meant stepping away from my internship and pausing my work at The Daily Orange. However, I feel the trade-off was more than worth it. While in Europe, I sharpened my Spanish skills, networked across borders and built invaluable relationships with international professors.
The connections you build abroad often follow you home, too. One of my professors from Barcelona is serving as my thesis reader this year—a perfect example of how an international network can support your academic goals long after the semester ends! My host mom in Florence also introduced me to her sister, an editor at The Associated Press, who helped me advance my career and stand out in internship applications.
6. It Pushes Your Boundaries and Encourages Independence
I’ve always been independent, but being able to travel alone, an ocean away from my safety net, taught me a new level of self-reliance. Moreover, I reaffirmed my love for journalism while I was abroad. Being able to meet and interview people from all different walks of life and try to understand their backgrounds opened my eyes up to how much I didn’t know, and how much I wanted to learn about the world—a perspective I was glad to bring back to Syracuse.
If you’re interested in going abroad, make sure to connect with the Syracuse Abroad office to learn more about programs, requirements, application deadlines and more! And if you’re eager to begin your abroad journey soon, Spring 2027 applications open on Friday, May 15 (just over a month away!).
Written By Kate Jackson ’26, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs