International Students Abroad

Maibritt [Economics & Social Studies]: My experience studying abroad as an international student at Harvard was extremely positive. I think it’s easy to tell yourself that you’re “already studying abroad” because you’re going to an American college, but that shouldn’t stop you from seeking out more breadth in experience. Every place you study is different. I studied abroad in Berlin, which in many ways is similar to my home country of Denmark, yet was also completely unique. I got to know a new city really well and immerse myself in a very different student culture. If you’re an international student considering studying abroad, you should ask yourself whether you’re someone who enjoys new experiences and new perspectives. And whether you think you’d benefit from spending some time away from Harvard. I certainly feel that my semester abroad made me appreciate many aspects of Harvard that I had previously taken for granted. For instance, I’ve really come to be grateful for [our] college campus community, which is hard to find elsewhere and very different from German student life.

Nayeli [Psychology]: Studying abroad helped me realize that a balanced approach to life and learning is both possible and fulfilling. Not everyone is in a constant grind; many universities encourage a healthier pace, where academics don’t overshadow other aspects of life. In a setting like Harvard, surrounded by highly driven and accomplished individuals, it’s easy to lose sight of simply enjoying life and the present moment. My time abroad reminded me of the value of this balance, helping me see that a fulfilling life can—and should—include joy and rest alongside hard work.

José [Government]: Our community is truly exceptional and being away from it made me realize it more. However, there are lessons that I learned abroad that I had not learned at Harvard. I traveled to more than 10 cities throughout the semester, learned more Western history by immersion, and connected to a new culture in a meaningful way. My biggest learning was to pursue excellence while feeling joy in life's simplest gifts. We are all human, and we have so many things in common across countries. I feel I am more ready for real life once I graduate.

Gloria [Psychology]: I feel like as diverse the student body at Harvard is, Harvard is still very much a bubble. Studying abroad introduced me to meeting so many life-long friends with diverse interests coming from different countries, cultures, and backgrounds. I feel that Harvard provides so many resources and opportunities to students but so many of my peers are swept by the current of pursuing careers in finance, consulting, tech, etc. Studying abroad really opened my eyes to all the opportunities out there and made me more confident in choosing the path for me. So coming back to Harvard, I no longer feel the peer pressure from the Harvard bubble of finance, consulting, tech, etc. 

Sofia [Mechanical Sciences (SB)]: The Harvard student is not the typical college student and getting to surround myself with a different kind of student gave me an important perspective on the role of college. I came back to Harvard appreciating different aspects of it a lot more, but also knowing myself a lot better and what I wanted to make of my last year here.

Manas [Economics & Government]: In my opinion, the transformative potential of a first semester in a new place far exceeds the marginal benefit of yet another semester at Harvard. Think back to how profoundly you grew during your freshman fall—from the person you were at the start to who you became by the end. Now, imagine giving yourself the chance to experience that all over again. And the beauty of studying abroad is that when your adventure concludes, Harvard will be right where you left it—ready to welcome you home, unchanged yet awaiting the changed you.

Nayeli [Psychology]: I highly recommend studying abroad. While moving to the USA alone in my freshman year taught me a lot about independence, going to the UK (or to Denmark the previous summer) offered a completely different experience. With more experience, I no longer made the same mistakes I did as a freshman. I found myself more at ease, better able to enjoy and explore with a sense of openness and lightheartedness. Moreover, the academic culture in Europe, at least where I studied, emphasized a more balanced approach to life and academics, which allowed time for self-discovery and exploration. This time to reflect on my interests and goals was invaluable and gave me a clearer vision of what I want to do.

Sarah [Psychology]: As an international student, you probably already know how transformative immersing yourself in a new place can be! Realizing how much I grew by coming to the US was a big motivating factor to seek more opportunities abroad, and I hope it motivates you too! I understand why students would worry about missing out on what Harvard has to offer but, honestly, I think I would rather feel FOMO about not being at Harvard than missing out on the opportunity of spending a semester in a whole new place! 

If your biggest concern is missing out on social life, convince your friends to study abroad too! Four of my closest friends went to Spain and we got to travel together and visit each other, and it was awesome. 

Besides, I've gained so much by being at Oxford, from being able to explore wonderful new places and cultures to allowing my intellectual curiosity to flourish without academic constraints. Their long Easter break allowed me to spend my birthday with my family back home in Brazil and help organize two conferences, one in Panama/DR and one in Boston (which also allowed me to reunite with Harvard friends!). Overall, I think Oxford (and studying abroad in general) has a lot to offer and you should definitely consider going somewhere new :)

José [Government]: It is not only an opportunity to learn outside of Harvard, but also of doing meaningful traveling and connecting with a new culture. From cooking your meals every day to having more free-time to learn and explore a city, studying abroad was a great way of expanding my perspectives, cultural knowledge, and becoming more independent. 

Gloria [Psychology]: It might feel like you already know or lived in a completely different environment or culture, but that should not stop you from learning about more. I've lived in 6 different countries and 3 continents, but as cliche as it sounds, the world has so much to offer. You can choose to explore an entirely different continent, learn a new language you never thought you would learn, and interact with both locals and other study abroad students from around the world. I studied abroad twice (summer in London, semester in Amsterdam) and formed lifelong friends from so many countries: Saudi Arabia, Slovenia, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, Taiwan, Indonesia, India, China, and Japan.