More and more students are choosing to study at colleges and universities in a foreign country. Do the benefits of studying abroad outweigh the drawbacks?

Studying abroad is becoming a dream of many students these days. An increasing number of aspirants are opting for pursuing their higher studies in foreign countries such as USA and Canada. I feel this trend serves far more benefits than drawbacks and this essay will deal with both sides. There are some deficits of pursuing tertiary education in another land. One main drawback is, residing far away from family. As students have to leave their home country and dear ones, some of them find it difficult to cope due to lack of family support. This may result in a feeling of isolation and anxiety which may lead to depression. Another downside to this is that foreign education is highly expensive. When a student lives abroad, he is bound to incur cost of food, accommodation, rent, transport and others, along with the college fees. This comes up to a very large sum of money overall. Foreign education, on the contrary, has several perks. One of them is the opportunity of exploring a new culture. Students are able to experience and learn about a whole new tradition and values of the host country. As most of them find it unique and different, they usually enjoy and regard it interesting. Another key positive is the chance to settle in the host nation. Education in foreign country comes with the benefit of work permit. Canada, for instance, allows two years work permit to a student who pursues one year diploma course from Canada. Thus, students can earn ample money during this time and eventually apply for citizenship. In conclusion, I feel the young generation choosing to pursue education in another nation have a wide range of opportunities leading to a bright future. Although there are some negatives, they can be overcome by proper research and planning.