Cons:

- You may miss out on incredible sights that are right nearby you, or only a modest distance away. It would not do to study in Southern Spain and miss the famous mosques and palaces there because you were hopping back and forth between Madrid and Barcelona. The people of Andalusia are also unique as well. Here is a quote from a Wellesley Student who studied in Cordoba with PRESHCO: “Travel but also get to know where you are. It makes it so much better if you love where you are and know people there as well. Getting to know locals makes the experience 100% better.”


- If you are doing a language program and staying with a host family, it is always good to spend as much time around them as possible and improve your language skills. In fact, a lot of students will say that their host family was the best and most memorable aspect of their experience. A student who did IES in Nantes says: “My host family was my favorite part of the program. I felt right at home and they helped me so much with my french.”


- You may miss out on some great friendships, with both those in your program and the locals, if you’re constantly on the move. As one student who went to the University of Sydney put it: “You will have the time of your life. Don’t hang out with just other American students. I saw so much of the city that I never would have seen through my Aussie friends.”

But there is a middle road. If you are abroad for long enough you can manage your travel in a balanced way. One way to balance it is often to travel farther once the program is finished. This gives you enough time in your host location, as well as a chance to get outside of it once you are no longer living there. One student who did SIT: Durban says: “Travel the country once your studies end! There is stuff you won’t see while studying and you won’t want to leave immediately once your studies finish. So make time afterwards.” In short, it is up to you what you chose to experience abroad. Just be mindful of the trade-offs involved.