study abroad essay tips

study abroad essay tips

Effective Strategies for Writing a Compelling Study Abroad Essay

1. Introduction to Study Abroad Essays

In the essay, students should show, not tell, their firm interest in the opportunity of studying abroad at the chosen institution, so that readers understand that an already-strong career and academic plan would be or become even better through enrollment at that institution in that setting. Find a hook. Grabbing the reader from the first sentence is important. An effective conclusion to the essay helps identify the good-fit between the applicant and the program. In the conclusion, the student should mention what he or she would contribute to and ‘take away’ from the study-abroad experience, and how he or she would change as a result of studying abroad. Unlike most personal statements, that conclusions tend to be more general, and less focused. This component of the Student Application is the first most colleges or universities see. It serves as part of the college or university screening interview, and is typically under 300 words. It is checked for grammar, commas, quoting, and spelling. Most of the essay is taken up by the checklist and by the applicant’s own story.

In many ways, the personal statement is the college or university application component that gives the admissions officer the clearest snapshot of the student. In an essay of 300-500 words, the student describes the reason behind wanting to earn college credit abroad and why that desire evokes enthusiasm for the study abroad program of choice. Good study abroad essays are clear, articulate, and filled with good humor and passion. Students’ chances of acceptance are not necessarily affected by quality of writing, but to be competitive and receive first consideration, the student should make substantive effort to make the essay clear and enjoyable to read. At minimum, applicants should address the following points in their application essays: The reasons behind the choice to study abroad. Remember, this is an essay from your point of view. Your response should be directed to the College Office of Study Abroad.

2. Crafting a Strong Personal Statement

Next, write an introduction specific to the country you will be studying in and talk about how you have an interest in them. In this part of your introduction, you should note specific examples that will help bridge the gap between your essay and what you want in the program. Engage the reader with the details of what you learned and why they were interesting to you. From this common thread, you should then build your own story in detail. The main focus should be the reason why you want to study in another country and how your past academic record and childhood experiences have built your dreams and goals. Be specific and use local details to make it clear to the reader why you are applying to this program, not any other. Finally, close your introduction with your thesis, which, in this case, could be something like, “My study abroad experience in Paris, which I was fortunate enough to receive a scholarship to attend, will not only be a fantastic educational opportunity but will also be an essential part of my journey to find myself.”

Tell the story of why you decided to study abroad. Also, explain to the reader how your life experiences, work, volunteer work, or classroom activities have made you a better candidate to study in a different culture. This question allows the college to see your internal motivations and how you have become the person you are today. While you are discussing yourself and your interests, be sure to show admissions officers and program directors that you have researched their program and understand what you are registering for. Check the program’s own statement of purpose and guide to see what the admissions officers are looking for, then make sure your essay addresses these qualities. Research the country’s culture and background information.

3. Highlighting Academic and Career Goals

– Academic interest at the host and home institution, where there are strong departments and how the courses in a major are different at the host and how some of the electives differ at home or at the host. How do the courses fit into the major requirements and in what sequence? – Career goals based on experiences, internships, or co-ops available, alumni working abroad focused on career plans. – What competencies might be developed in academics and in non-academic sponsored activities that might be identified in the study abroad proposal or by the end of the program? – Academic goals accomplished from taking a specific class in a foreign university, and other activities related to a class at home such as going to a performance of a play, attending a lecture, or visiting a site that enhances the class. – Personal goals which are then framed in terms of setbacks you might anticipate and how you would work through them. For example, failure to grasp what is happening with non, inability to understand immediately what is meant by accented English, and need to rely more on visual cues, frustration with signs in another language. For example, how would you handle not getting ahead academically, resolving conflict, or achieving no change in learning French. Remember, to achieve skills, preparation for a study abroad experience, the planning to meet your goals, and self-reflection e.g., how were you personally affected by the host culture through an event or events? The requirement for self-reflection also connects to the reflective essay you will write after you return from your experience and how the proposed program fits into your larger academic plan.

Academic and career goals considered in preparation of the undergraduate experience abroad can fit seamlessly into a study abroad essay. In the research done to prepare for a proposed study abroad experience, there should be discovery of goals and desires in:

4. Emphasizing Cultural Awareness and Adaptability

This information need not be outlined in one section, or even at a set point in the essay. Throughout the essay, students should be identifying experiences in which they were especially adaptive, even if unrelated to the country or countries that they visited during their time abroad. Emphasizing that students detail what they have learned through other unique experiences or character building is definitely a focus area in helping to set students apart. It is important to recognize all aspects of adaptability that can help convey something about a student’s potential for thriving in a college setting.

In the final section of our guide, this part can be at many points in an essay. Because this is a broader item that will reflect on all of the writing, it is important to point to the relevant part in the essay. This could be a study abroad program director or other college academic leadership position. An essay that allows the set up as much information as possible, demonstrating tremendous cultural awareness throughout the process. Cultural immersion, as well as adaptability, is a focus of any study abroad experience and identifying those characteristics should be a focus of all students accompanying their essays. Obvious understanding of cultural differences and a willingness to embrace these differences will set students apart from their peers.

5. Concluding with a Powerful Reflection

Make sure to make clear connections with your experiences and what you have learned. Avoid common introductions or evidence of your travels like: “I saw a castle in France”. How many study abroad students see castles every day? You need to share your viewpoints and what you learned. Adding these answers to specific evidence will be compelling for your reader. Make sure to ask yourself: How did I benefit from my time away? How do I view the world differently? How did my experience affect my views of the benefits of being a more thoughtful student, citizen, and professional? How have you seen positive changes in your personality or traits? How have these changes positively affected your life? How will these traits benefit your university, your home country, and your international job in the future?

Reflecting on the experiences that you have encountered and how they helped you understand the value of learning internationally as a part of your education can be a very useful ending for your essay. Sometimes you have to witness and experience a different life to understand the value of what you have. Also, sharing with the reader how and why you are changed is important. If you don’t feel you were changed, then try to view this essay as a comparison of the two different worlds that you were a part of.