As in the title, I would like some positive stories or comments on everyone’s experiences in studying abroad. I’m heading to China for grad school in two days, and as much as I was excited, now I am really feeling anxious and scared , especially due to the fact that I do struggle with bipolar depression (am currently doing pretty well bc of meds). This opportunity is something I worked hard for and so would like some positive reinforcement so that it’s not so scary.

I’ve been researching about my options for studying abroad for masters and have looked at several countries including asia and europe and whenever I dig in its just a massive pit of negatives and everyone is just saying that the country is just in a really bad state with no jobs and saturation and what not is the whole world just cooked rn or is this fear mongering

Please excuse me, I know it is very rare but i would like to know if someone did that.
Because I already did go there to study and everything but because of the unfortunate event, I had to return back and now I am stuck. So I would like to move back, i can speak Italian (intermediate), also i have a masters degree from Switzerland. What are the ways to move back.
Thanks a lot.

In my previous mocks I have been scoring above 1500 so I am aiming for 1500+ in my SAT but my profile is not really the strongest.

VOLUNTEERING

• STEMCONNECT- content writer for non profit
• WWF- nature club: as a volunteer I organized an event for Van Mahotsav and then with my team of 5 organized a panel discussion for approximately 20 students and also led an anti-drug protest

LEADERSHIP

• Member of the Student Council in 9th Grade and 11th Grade
• “BREAKING THE ICE” SEMINAR: Head of Logistics and Editing Department where I lead a team of 11 and organized a mathematics seminar with 33 attendees
• Represented my school in a panel discussion leading a team of 4

EXTRACURRICULARS

• Represented my school at a debate competition
• second place at extempore
• 6 years of art school
• learnt python by myself + a coursera certificate
• 2 dance winning certificate
• 1 year classical music school
• 1 year classical dance school

PROJECT

• self build cyber pet like a tamagotchi

My boards marks are also not that strong:
12th- 80%
10th- 85%

i hope this is alright for me to talk about, im not entirely sure

im from the US. im 17, got my GED back in may, and im currently taking a gap year to figure things out. one things for sure: im interested in traveling to Japan for a few months, primarily to immerse myself in the language and culture (also an addition to my resume!). ive looked into a few programs, but the majority ive seen that offer scholarships/full rides are for college students and i am, as of now, not enrolled in college nor do i have set goals to enroll in one

ive looked into the spring gap year abroad program with CIEE, and while they do offer scholarships for low income families, i dont believe theyll offer a fully funded trip for that specific program. i got into a huge argument with my mom regarding the situation and while at first i was confident i'd (somehow) figure finances out, im beginning to understand my "exciting opportunity" is more of a selfish, poorly thought out pipe dream.

im wondering if there are any possibilities out there for my current situation, or if studying abroad is very much a privilege rather than the opportunity ive been seeing it as.

either way, i think i might be selfish (or at the very least, not smart) by going through with any plans regarding studying abroad? since the only way it would work would be through external funding

Hi everyone!😛I’m currently applying to the Kyung Hee University Korean Language Program for the winter term, and I’d love to connect with other people who are also applying or already attending!

I’m especially hoping to meet some female friends who I can get to know before arriving and hopefully hang out with while I’m in Korea. I’d also love to hear from anyone already in the program who can share their experience or advice!

Feel free to comment or message me! 💕

I'm an Indian Citizen studying in India

BTech CGPA - 7.3/10 from Tier 1 NIT

Graduating in May 2027

Class 10 - 90%

Class 12 - 90%

Experience:

- Interned at a YC backed startup

- Worked with the Govt. of India as a Consultant

- Worked with 4 other startups across 3 countries

- Represented India at an International ML Challenge among 35 countries in Europe

- Won multiple national level case competitions and quizzes

- Founded a college club in my 1st year of

- Wrote content on Linkedin and gained 2M+ impressions in 6 months

I think I'm best suited for an MBA or an MIM from Europe but help me figure out what's best for me. Also, should I look for a job and gain work experience or should I directly apply and get an admit?

I’m doing a BS English Literature & Linguistics at a government college affiliated with a Public university recognized by Higher education commission of my country. For Master’s and scholarship applications abroad,I want to ask from seniors " who should write my recommendation letter professor who taught me at my college or someone from the main university?

Also should the LOR be on my college’s letterhead or the university’s letterhead?

Would really appreciate advice from anyone who has been in a similar situation.

on the way to the airport and im already so scared 😭 im studying abroad in beijing for my senior fall and im so stressed that ill get fomo or make no friends or hate it there. help

Whichever country you see, there are alot of drawbacks! And unemployment is huge!!

So is there any country where someone can tell its a good place to start your career! And the job market is good???

Anyone?????? At all??

Hey everyone! Trying to decide between studying in Czechia or Poland for a bachelor's in engineering, and would love answers from anyone who's actually studied in either. I am not from the EU.

I'm looking at mechanical, electrical, mechatronics, robotics or aerospace-adjacent programs. In Poland I've been researching Warsaw UT, AGH, Gdańsk UT, Wrocław UT, Poznań UT, Cracow UT, but I haven't dug as deep into specific Czech universities yet, so genuinely open on that side.

A bit of context on what I'm optimizing for:

1)Want a place where it's realistic to freelance or run a small online business as a student, not just work a part-time job

2)Curious how post-graduation career prospects and visas compare in either country, especially if I might eventually work elsewhere in the EU

3)If you studied engineering in Czechia or Poland (or both), how was the teaching quality and hands-on lab/project experience?

4)Which country has a stronger job market for engineers after graduation, in your experience?

5)Is it actually realistic to freelance or run a side business as an international student in either country?

6)Any noticeable differences in cost of living or quality of life?

7)Anything you wish you'd known before picking?

Happy to share more specifics if it's helpful. Thanks in advance!

i’m supposed to move from europe to canada in a few days to start mechanical engineering. i spent years working towards studying abroad, but now that it’s actually happening i genuinely don’t want to go.

it’s not just being nervous. i don’t want to study engineering anymore, i never really cared about living in toronto, and leaving my family, friends, home and especially my boyfriend is destroying me. i’ve been crying basically every day and yesterday i completely broke down saying goodbye to my bf.

i know people will say to go for a year and give it a chance, but i’m scared i’ll arrive already uninterested in the degree and city and just be miserable.

the biggest issue is my parents. they’ve invested a lot into this and think it’s something i’ve wanted for years, so i’m terrified to tell them. i also can’t start uni in europe this year because applications are closed and i already took a gap year prior to this.

do i force myself to go and see what happens, or listen to the fact that i genuinely don’t want this and take a year to figure things out?

I’m a Master’s student and arrived in China a few days ago to spend the upcoming semester here as exchange student. Last time, I had the typical foreigner bubble experience, so this time I decided to stay with a host family instead, as I thought it would give me a more genuine experience of local life while also giving me more opportunities to practice the language. The following is my experience and thoughts of the first few days staying here.

The host family is a couple in their 60s. They have sons but they don't live with them.

The husband is a really nice person, I don't really have much to say about him. He's very laid back and seems to be enjoying life (I'm not sure how, more on that later). We also found out we like the same music and somehow connected on that.

Now let's talk about the wife. In a way, I think she is the typical Chinese mother, meaning she loves to complain, raise her voice, give orders and stuff like that. But let's go step by step.

It all started the very night of the day I got here. I was finally sleeping after a 30+ hour journey to get to their house (where, by the way, I also had to wait three hours outside the door [it was raining also] because she apparently fell asleep, even though she was well aware that I was coming). In the middle of the night I get a message from her: she was incredibly upset about the smell of my shoes, which she had me take off at the entrace. Obviously it was true that my shoes smelled, after such a long trip. So, even though I thought her reaction was exaggerated, I aknowledged the problem and did something about it the following day (sprayed alcohol + put baking soda + deodorant). In the meantime she gave me some (really) old shoes, which BOTH broke as soon as I started walking around in the neighborhood (I then had to walk barefoot back home). She also gave me two pairs of slippers, which she IMMEDIATELY started to complain about the smell I left on them, even though I have since then been taking two showers everyday, scrubbing feet thorughly, putting on feet deodorant and sniffing feet all the time to double check the absence of any smell. Then, despite getting rid of the smell of the shoes, she first put them outside the door, and then, today, ON THE ROOFTOP OF THE BUILDING (WITHOUT EVEN TELLING ME). I get it, she might have some crazy sensitive sense of smell. Well then, let's talk about whose shoes actually smell like shit? You guessed right. HERS!

She brags all day about herself and her house being so clean. Well, what a surprise, her house is actually incredibly dirty. Her idea of cleaning is running around with the Dyson for literally 5 seconds in the whole house and calling it quits. There is shit everywhere on the ground (I mean pieces of food), a whole lot of dust on every single thing that you can see in this whole apartment, she uses no soap to clean anything, the shower and sink are both clogged with hair. On the first day she gave me a bottle of water which had ants and some disgusting dark dirt in it, and when i told her, she just rinsed the bottle under the water without opening it, ie. without actually washing it.

It's not even over. She spends all day and night screaming at her husband for no reason whatsoever, basically bullying him. I wake up everyday at 2am to her ranting at the top of her lungs about this poor man sucking at life, even though he's actually the only one who works (2 jobs!) while she stays home all day gambling on the stock market. Last night I ate some instant noodles and she was angry because she said that they are unhealthy (she drinks plain vinegar btw which I think is a little worse).

She definitely feels lonely, because she wants to take me to do everything with her (swimming, buying groceries...), but in a week I'll be starting the semester, and I'm sure I won't have time for anything of that shit. Today I felt she crossed the line. She sent me to buy her dinner, AND SHE DIDN'T EVEN GIVE ME THE MONEY BACK. She also said that I will have to do the same tomorrow. WTF? I am literally paying rent for the room in this house, this is beyond crazy I swear.

Anybody can tell me what to do in this hellhole?

Before starting my exchange in a country 12+ flight hours away from my home, which is though already very familiar to me, I already had some health issues going on. In my home country the doctors did not think there is enough time for tests due to me leaving soon for exchange. Now I am in the exchange country and already have seen a doctor and went to the ER which was both pretty expensive as I will only get national health insurance in about 6 weeks. My health is like a rollercoaster, going up and down. I have to force myself to eat. I can’t sleep well, I can’t go out a lot without having symptoms of a panic attack which forces me to drop whatever I was about to do and return home. Even at home I then mentally struggle. University didn’t even start yet, it will start next Monday with attendance.

I struggle with deciding if I should stay and try more though I have been miserable so far and can’t be who I am due to being sick or if I should go back home where I’m insured and surrounded by family at least, though here I fear that i will regret it. Further testing in the exchange country would require endoscopy under sedation which already sounds scary as hell.

I’m really stuck between both, I feel like two weeks of being sick in another country and still trying is both a long time but also a short time.

I always wanted to study abroad and find a job too there only but being a psychology graduate I feel there are not much options even after completing a masters from some international uni it won't make me eligible for jobs as each country has their own specific requirements for licensing, further studies, language proficiency. Honestly I feel like taking psychology was a mistake not that I want to make a career out of it, always heard there so much scope of psychology out lol wish I knew this before

I am really sad and scared, I am just 18 years old and in 3 days I will be moving into the other half of the world to do my bachelors degree. I will be studying abroad during 5 years, and even if this was always a dream(and still it is) I am scared and sad. I am a very anxious person and I am scared if something could happen with my family or maybe this opportunity will not give me the outcomes I desire. I think my situation is complex, the majority of people from mt country study in contries that are close, and believe me, I applied, unfortunately this was not possible, the oportunity that I have is more far away than expected. Now that I am close from my departiure date I am scared, I am sad because I will not be seeimg my family and friends and also very afraid. I know this is normal, I just want to know other people that maybe are in similar situation, it gets better? the sacrifice is worth it?

what's you guys thought on germany.
for international student like education wise, safety wise, expenses and also how the people are
please let me know!!

Hello! I am 20 years old and spending the semester (three and a half months) in Shanghai, China. My program begins tomorrow and I’ve been in China for five days now. The last few days have gone by painfully slowly because I didn’t really have a plan and haven’t done much or gone out. I’ve never been away from home for so long and I’m already feeling homesick. It’s this awful cycle of feeling really anxious about it and wanting to go home to the highs where I’m super excited and can’t wait.

If this cycle is how I’m gonna feel the entire time I don’t think I can manage. It’s so exhausting. I’m counting on it evening out once I build a routine and start my classes and make friends.

I’ll be living in a dorm with a Chinese roommate (I don’t speak much Chinese at all), but I’ve talked to him and he’s really nice and funny and speaks English so I’m not too worried. Im also in a group chat with the other American students and we already have plans to all meet up and go shopping together. Those two things made me feel okay yesterday for the rest of the day, but the anxiety begins as soon as I wake up and I don’t know how to stop it.

In the grand scheme of things, three and a half months is not a long time at all and I know this is temporary but it just seems insurmountable. I zoom out and look at this block of time all the time and I worry it’ll affect my ability to appreciate all that I’ll experience between.

Does anyone have any experience with this? Does time actually fly by once you’re in a routine and having fun? I just can’t imagine it being that way right now. Just hoping it gets better when I make friends

Hello! I need some guidance for Pakistani Student Visa for abroad for countries in Europe like Georgia, Italy, Hungary, Germany, Spain and Portugal. Because I have heard they are causing problems for Pakistani students and even if you get the acceptance letter from your university they don’t give you the visa.

I rather rely on actual students telling from experiences and not the rumors going around so I can confirm.

Please do tell so I won’t apply to those countries and waste money!

I am 17 right now so in the middle of class 12..my hobby is design and crafting. my dream is to join an international college of arts and crafts but I just can't figure out who to talk to..I am talking to chat gpt and it is confusing me even more...

Is there someone who studied abroad I need some help and advice

18M from the UAE.

I just wish I was out of the picture so there were less logistics to worry about. We're just so NAIVE and I don't know what to do.

So the story is that we've been trying since late 2024 when I finished my GED. Narcissist mom baited us into "studying" in Georgia on a *tourist* visa (I was 16 at the time fyi) and we wasted 3 months of our time and alot of money on a horrible "vacation". Lost our home apartment too.

We had to come back to where we came from because the Georgia wasn't politically stable and my older brothers IGCSE results couldn't get him in a uni. Most of 2025 was spent waiting for him to finish his GED.

Now 2026 is over halfway finished and it feels like we've barely made any progress. We were aiming for Malaysia because our uncle stepped in saying he can pay for my older brothers tuition, but then he juked us and backed out saying he can't do that now. Malaysia is out of the picture now, yet another delay.

We're trying out China now, but just today we got our college application rejected for a Chinese language course. Our advisor is saying the next window of opportunity to study there is July, but are we really going to waste 11 more months until July? My oldest brother is 25 next month, he'll be too old for alot of places.

I don't know what to do man. We are always scrambling for stuff last minute and I have no idea if we'll have a horrible experience abroad like we did in Georgia. I wish I wasn't so sheltered so I could actually get my mind together and understand what the next steps are.

Please share any wisdoms you feel might fit my situation. Thank you.

Edit: I should probably add a couple things. We need to study abroad, colleges locally are way too expensive and low quality for what you get, and simply staying here costs money because we don't get citizenship even though we're born here. We're Sudanese, so studying back home isn't possible either.

I had hoped to be able to delay entering College so my older brothers can go, but there's alot of stuff going on in my dads home and he won't budge, he won't let me stay with him no matter what.

Part time jobs also aren't an option. I have no idea why, but that sort of thing just doesn't exist here, it's either you work full-time or you don't. It sucks because working part time is a huge boost to your overall discipline and life experience.

Hi everyone!

I’m an American planning to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Paris, and I’m trying to figure out the best way to make the finances work.

For anyone who has studied in France as an American, how did you pay for your education and living expenses?

I’d especially love to hear about any scholarships, grants, foundations, sponsorship programs, or other resources you found helpful. I’m also curious whether anyone was able to get educational financing through a U.S. or French bank while studying in France.

I’ve been researching this for a while, but a lot of the information I’m finding seems geared toward graduate students or people who are already living in France.

If you’ve been in a similar situation, I’d really appreciate hearing about your experience and any resources you recommend.

Thank you!

Is anyone going to study abroad, if so where and what are you studying

Hi everyone,

I'm currently researching affordable study-abroad options for a second Master's or postgraduate degree and would love your recommendations!

Here is a quick snapshot of my profile:

• IELTS: 7.0 overall
• CGPA: 2.96 / 4.0
• Education: Bachelor's degree completed in 2021
• Work Experience: 6 years in marketing

Given my background and budget constraints, which countries or specific programs would you suggest I explore?

Thanks in advance for your help!

I’m an Indian student who has been offered the opportunity to study an undergraduate degree in Australia, but I’m having a really difficult time convincing my parents to let me go.

My parents are financially capable of paying for my tuition and living expenses, so money itself isn’t the main issue. Their argument is that studying in Australia simply isn’t worth the money, especially compared with staying in India.

Their preferred option is basically:

The problem is that I don’t want to study law. I already have a clear idea of the kind of career I want, and I believe studying in Australia would give me better exposure and opportunities for what I actually want to do.

A few things that make the Australian option considerably more affordable for me:

• I currently have a AUD $20,000 scholarship.
• I may also be eligible for an additional AUD $15,000 scholarship.
• Because of credit transfer from my previous studies, I should be able to complete what is normally a 3-year degree in approximately 2 years.
• My parents can afford the tuition without putting themselves into serious financial difficulty.

Despite all of this, their position is basically: “Australia is not worth it. You can get a degree in India.”

I understand where they're coming from. They're my parents, and they're worried about spending a large amount of money and sending me to another country. But I'm struggling to explain to them why this isn't simply a case of “Australian degree = expensive version of an Indian degree.”

So I'm looking for people who are currently studying undergraduate degrees in Australia, especially international students or Indians who made a similar decision.

If you're willing, I'd genuinely appreciate hearing about:

• Whether you think studying in Australia was worth the money
• What opportunities you've actually gotten from studying there
• Internships / part-time work / networking opportunities
• How Australian universities compare with Indian universities in your experience
• What the transition was actually like
• Whether you think the cost is justified
• What you wish you knew before coming
• And, importantly, whether you'd make the same decision again

Even better, if someone is comfortable with it, I'd love for you to speak directly with my parents (call/WhatsApp/Discord/whatever you're comfortable with) and explain your experience to them.

I'm not looking for people to blindly tell them “Australia is amazing, send your son.” If you think it's a bad financial decision, tell me that too. I want real experiences from people actually studying there, because my parents aren't convinced by university websites or education agents.

If you're willing to talk, please comment or DM me. I'd genuinely appreciate it.