What are the general pros and cons of studying or volunteering abroad?

I was not able to study abroad during college, but spent two years after college teaching English in Japan.
I look back on these years as some of the best, and certainly the most transformative of my life.

Pros: Learning to live on your own, amazing adventure, expanded cultural awareness, resourcefulness, fulfilling experience, exceptional resume builder
Cons: It can be lonely at first until you learn the language and make friends, tough to get home for family events

One thing I would NOT worry about is the concept that your peers are starting careers and you are lagging behind. You're not. In living abroad you gain experience and insight that will carry you far in life and your ultimate career.

I did not study abroad in college and while I regret it a bit, I do think that there is so much opportunity to travel after college if you make it a priority. From my understanding of studying abroad, the pros are expanding your outlook on the world, gaining "street smarts," and learning problem solving (or even a new language!). Cons of studying abroad are certainly the cost and if you don't like being away from home, there is always homesickness. This said, I've found that quickly subsides once you've made friends or found some activities to focus on!

Alice Zurek from Sweden attended Australia’s La Trobe University to study tourism management. Her favorite part of studying abroad was meeting new people, making friends and enjoying experiences she’d never had before. Alice Lee from Taiwan agrees. She is studying editing and publishing at Monash University. “I enjoy meeting like-minded people who have come here from various backgrounds,” she told me. “I like talking about interests we all have in common.”

Con: Loneliness

Regardless of how many new friends they make, most international students do experience loneliness at some stage. There are always occasions when you miss your family. Be it Christmas, Eid, Holi or any other religious festival, your first job, or your good results – you want to share those moments with your family and loved ones who are unfortunately miles away. Alice Zurek termed this as her “least favorite” aspect of studying abroad, while Alice Lee said sometimes loneliness makes her feel like an “alien”.

Pro: More study options

This one is definitely a pro. Alejandra Garrido, who studied art therapy at Phoenix Institute after coming from Spain, was delighted at the opportunities she had. “My favorite thing about studying here has been the different fields that are available for studying; in my case art therapy and group facilitation, two fields that in Spain are unknown and here are all well recognized,” she wrote.

Con: Fees and living costs

International students have to cope with a lot. Financial troubles are often on the top of that list. You pay heavy fees and if you are living in a country like Australia, then good luck managing other expenses on a low monthly budget. While Australian cities are some of the world’s most livable and attractive, they’re also among the most expensive. These remarks from Alejandra sum it up nicely: “The not such a fun part has been the feeling of business that surrounds many schools in Australia and the fact that as international students we have to pay more (fees) and we don't have the right to get concession cards for transport.”

Pro/con: Adapting to new norms/demands

This one is tricky. The challenges of adapting to a new culture and set of demands can fall in the category of pros as well as cons, depending on your perspective. For Alice, coming from Taiwan and settling into this new culture was not easy – but it wasn’t exactly negative either. She had to understand the new ways, improve her language skills and take care of her university workload. “This all is challenging, but that’s what motivates me and keeps me alive,” she said.

I was not able to study abroad during college, but spent two years after college teaching English in Japan.
I look back on these years as some of the best, and certainly the most transformative of my life.

Pros: Learning to live on your own, amazing adventure, expanded cultural awareness, resourcefulness, fulfilling experience, exceptional resume builder
Cons: It can be lonely at first until you learn the language and make friends, tough to get home for family events