The 3 Biggest Study Abroad Mistakes

So you are thinking about studying abroad? Choosing a location, signing up for a program, and buying the tickets are just the beginning. There are many other decisions that you will have to make before you embark on your journey. Some of these choices will greatly affect your experience while studying abroad whether it is for the good or bad. From my past experience I have noticed these five things to be my biggest mistakes.

1. Not preparing a budget Running out of money abroad may be one of the most stressful things you can experience, especially if you don't speak the language well. If you are going over there with a bottomless bank account then you are fortunate, but like most of us money will be tight. Make sure you plan for the norm; food, transportation, gifts, leisure activities, but watch out for the unexpected expenses. Things like ATM and credit card fees, baggage fees, and others will really add up fast. Everyone is different so plan a budget that fits YOU and your lifestyle.

2. Taking too much luggage There is an unwritten rule that you should only bring what you can carry! Bringing to much luggage attracts thieves and causes delays. Bring enough clothes to get you by for a week so you can plan on doing laundry on a weekly basis. Make a list before you pack and really make sure you absolutely NEED the things you are taking. Watch out for extra fees for having to heavy of baggage.

3. Bring and Copy Important Documents Before you embark on your journey, organize your documents and make sure you make copies of them. Nothing is a bigger headache than having to replace a lost passport or airplane ticket! Copy all of your travel documents, prescriptions, credit cards, passports, phone number and address of the place you will be staying, and everything else important. Losing these can not only cause stress and take up time but also result in you being a victim of identity theft. Emailing copies to yourself is also another great way to make sure you won't lose any important information.

These are the three biggest mistakes most people make when going abroad. Think smart and be prepared and you will do fine! Happy journeys my friend!