Introduction

Study abroad is an enriching, life-changing experience. If you are contemplating study abroad, you have already revealed a desirable trait that sets you apart from other students: intellectual curiosity. You want to know more about other peoples, other languages, other cultures. You understand that there is no substitute for the experience of living in another country, and you are eager to expand your cultural horizons by learning first-hand how other people live, think, work, and play.

Spending time abroad opens a window to a world of new experiences. Students who incorporate overseas study into their academic programs deepen their knowledge and understanding of international, political, and economic issues. Like other students, you may return from your sojourn abroad with a better perspective on world affairs and a broader understanding of your own country and its way of life.

But study abroad does more than promote academic enrichment and personal growth. It also enhances your employment prospects. Employers are increasingly looking for graduates who have studied abroad. Why? Because students who have returned from a successful study experience abroad possess skills that are valued in today’s competitive workplace: not just international knowledge and second language skills — important as those are — but also cross-cultural communication skills, flexibility, resilience, and the ability to adapt to new circumstances and deal constructively with differences. Study abroad returnees have demonstrated that they can thrive in new and often challenging environments.

Why do you want to study abroad? Take some time to ponder this seemingly simple question. You may have some very specific reasons: to improve language skills, for example, or to prepare for graduate school. Other reasons may be more general or abstract but are just as valid: to learn about another culture, to enhance your education, to meet new people, to travel. Your self-assessment and candid responses to the following questions can guide you to the kind of program best suited to meet your academic and personal goals:

Once you have given some thought to these questions and identified your objectives, your next step is to become familiar with the various opportunities open to you. The next section outlines your educational choices so that you can continue the process of matching your objectives with the types of programs available.

Why go to collage?

Whether you are uncertain about going to college or you just need some reassurance you're on the right track, here are a few reasons to go to college:

Studying in the Caribbean

The Association of Caribbean Tertiary Institutions (ACTI), for example, brings together more than 82 colleges and universities in a professional forum, acting as a catalyst for collaboration and co-operation in higher education.

Options in the Caribbean are similar to those in the US. Students choose either two-year community colleges (with an option to transfer to another institution for further study), technical schools offering associate degrees and vocational courses, or traditional four-year colleges and research-oriented universities awarding bachelor's degrees and postgraduate study. Postgraduate institutions offer both professional and research degrees. There are also a number of private medical schools in the region, providing the opportunity to qualify as an MD or pursue a related career in allied health.

Location and language are attractive reasons for choosing to study in the Caribbean, but the quality of education offered at island institutions is even more compelling.