For my third year of college, I participated in a study abroad program for an academic year in Nottingham, England. Despite it being the most formative and decisive years of my life, I realized I’ve barely written about my experience on the blog!

My study abroad experience changed me. My year living in England and traveling extensively throughout Europe was probably the best year of my life. I visited 13 different countries, including a 2-week solo trip to Russia. My study abroad was an amazing experience, and one that I think every student should have. While the program I participated in was a bit different from your normal study abroad (it was for an entire academic year, 12 students in total from my college, Luther College, and we only did half of our classes at the University of Nottingham), it was a phenomenal time.

I have never once regretted my study abroad. (Although I do sometimes wish I had taken better photos!) Here are 10 reasons why you should study abroad too!

1) It is the easiest time in your life to travel.

I say this as someone who has traveled extensively after college: studying abroad is the easiest time in your life and your career to travel. For most Americans, after university you’ll be limited to a maximum of 10 days off a year. And that’s IF you get time off at all. I never had any paid time off at any of my jobs in the US. It isn’t easy to just take a few months or a year out of a job and travel. This is especially true when you’re young, and wanting to progress in your career. And since taking a gap year to travel is extremely rare for Americans, there honestly isn’t any more time to be able to travel.

If you study abroad, that time to explore is almost always fit in with your normal degree (although some people might not always graduate on time, depending on your work load and class requirements). Studying abroad is widely accepted by society—taking off from a job is not. You will never find an easier time to travel.

2) There is the rare opportunity for financial support to travel.

If you look hard enough, you will find that there are a multitude of scholarships, grants, loans, etc. that are available for students who study abroad. The best place to start is at your university itself—see what they can do for your financial aid package! Some schools really prioritize study abroad and can work with you to come up with the money. After that, take to the internet. You might have to do a lot of work (and write a lot of essays), but study abroad scholarships DO exist.

And unless you come from a trust fund or a family made of money, let me put it straight: you will NOT receive outside financial help to travel ever again (unless you make a career out of traveling!). Studying abroad is a socially acceptable experience, and there are funds out there to help you do it. Traveling just for the hell of it? Not so much.

If you choose to study abroad, I can also guarantee that you will become better at budgeting and handling your own money. There is nothing like living in another currency (and converting every price tag you see) and having independent experiences to teach you to look after your own money.

3) The friends you make will be friends for life.

Many of my best friends from college are friends from my study abroad program. I made some amazing friends in England that I met through university—I even married one!! There is nothing like the experience of studying abroad to strengthen acquaintance-ships into steadfast friendships. Whether you’re exploring a new city together and getting hopelessly lost, trying to sight-see while impossibly hungover, crying when you’re homesick, or simply spending time together most days—the friendships you make when you study abroad can be some of the most meaningful of your life. No one else will understand, except them.

You will also have the best memories with them. And they will understand, and have those same memories.

4) It’s a fantastic opportunity to truly learn another language.

For most people studying a foreign language, a study abroad is a part of their degree. But whether it’s for your degree or just because you enjoy learning languages, studying abroad is the BEST opportunity to actually learn another language. I don’t think a person can become fluent in another language unless they are actually immersed in that language and culture in a 24/7 environment. And there is no better place for that environment than in another country where it’s the official language! If you truly want to learn another language and become fluent, studying abroad is the way to go.

5) There is a support system if/when things go wrong.

Unlike when you jet off by yourself for an independent adventure, studying abroad will also bring with it a support system. There will be people responsible for you and for making sure you’re okay—your study abroad adviser at your home university, the program director of your study abroad program, the international student adviser at your foreign university, etc. There are people to help and support you through the process. So whether you need help with visas, applications, finding a place to live, or getting a phone abroad—there will be someone you can call who will be able to help you!!

I think this is why studying abroad is such a great experiment for first-time travelers. While programs differ and day-to-day life might be drastically different, at the end of it all, you have people to help you. There is someone you can call if you get into trouble. That support system is absolutely vital. And it’s something you won’t have when you travel abroad long-term on your own.

6) It’s a short-term commitment to living in another country/culture.

Whether you choose to study abroad for a month, a semester, or a full academic year like I did, it is comforting to know that it is only for a set amount of time. When the homesickness kicks in (and all you want to do is eat a whole tub of real peanut butter), and you’re questioning why you did this in your first place (we’ve all been there), you can take comfort in knowing that it’s not forever. It’s only a few more weeks, a few more months, and then it’s over. Unlike moving abroad permanently, you get to experience another country’s culture for short amount of time. That mindset can make the entire experience so much better, especially if you’re struggling and homesick.

7) Studying abroad is a good way to see if you could/would actually live abroad.

When I moved to England for a year, I knew that it was my taster session, a trial run: could I actually live in England? Would I want to? Living in England has been my dream for pretty much my entire life. But I wanted to do a practice run, and see if I could actually make it.

If you are considering moving abroad on a permanent or semi-permanent basis, studying abroad is an excellent way to see how you fare in a foreign country. Do you struggle with a language barrier? Are you able to deal with being away from home for so long? Can you deal with constantly converting pricetags into the currency you know? These are very important questions that you just can’t answer unless you live abroad. And because of the support system, and the fact that it’s a short-term commitment, studying abroad is a great way to find out these answers.

8) It will broaden your mind like nothing else.

Visiting another country for an extended length of time will change your worldview and make you aware of other cultures, lifestyles, and choices. You will meet so many different types of people, experience so many strange culture shocks, communicate in ways you didn’t know were possible, and learn a lot about the world. After studying abroad, you won’t be the same person as before. You will simply see things differently, and have a different (more global) mindset.

9) There are lots of opportunities to travel!!!

Regardless of where you study abroad, part of immersing yourself in another culture is exploring that culture and that country. Studying abroad goes hand in hand with traveling! My study abroad program even required us to travel. Our flat was locked during our Christmas and Easter breaks, so we had to get out there and see the world. All study abroad programs encourage travel, and most make travel (of some kind) a priority. And if you’re studying abroad somewhere in Europe, it’s all too easy to get on a bus or a train or a plane and end up in another country in just a few hours. Regardless of where you go, the ability to travel during a study abroad can turn into an addiction!

10) Studying abroad is SO MUCH FUN!

Maybe the most important reason to study abroad? It’s FUN! Yes it’s culturally enriching, and yes you will learn a lot. But honestly? Studying abroad is just really fun. Most programs (although not all by any means) will have lighter work loads than you’re used to at your home university. You might only have class for 1-2 hours a day, meaning there’s a whole lot of time for fun things! During my study abroad, traveling was my top priority. If I wasn’t traveling, I was back in Nottingham partying. My schoolwork came last after traveling and partying. Somehow I still got excellent grades.

The party never really ends when you study abroad. It just goes on a brief hiatus for sleep, food, and a shower. This is especially true for Americans, as the general drinking age in countries outside the US is 18, not 21. So for many, it’s the first opportunity to (legally) drink alcohol! Partying can be a constant when you study abroad (although it doesn’t need to be!!) and chances are you’ll have some of the best nights of your life. But whether you party or not, studying abroad is fun. It is a fun experience. And I have yet to meet anyone who looked back on their study abroad and said, “no, I didn’t have fun.”

Studying abroad changed my entire life. It was the most monumental year for me—I truly discovered myself. I traveled extensively, gained confidence and independence, learned to truly budget my money for trips (and become an expert budget traveler in the meantime), met some of my lifelong friends (and one husband!), and had an incredible year living in another country.

Some experiences can’t be taught in the classroom. Studying abroad, and the things you learn from it, is one of them. If you haven’t studied abroad, I sincerely hope you do—and that it makes an impact on you, like it did for me.

Have you ever studied abroad? What was your experience like?! What things did you like or dislike? I’d love to hear about it in the comments below!