This is a difficult question with so many following questions, so let’s break it down. If I decide to study abroad, where would I want to go? How much will it cost me? What program do I want to study? Can I adapt to another country’s culture, system and people? Am I ready to leave my comfort zone? Is it the right time to leave? And the list goes on and on.


The truth is, the thought of moving to a different country to study sounds cool but to actually do it is where many people stop – stopping your life in one place and starting it over in another. For many years I had been seriously considering the idea to study abroad by exhausting all the necessary questions one can ask. However, this process became a bit of a double edged sword because when considering all the questions. Not only did it make it clear for me that I did want to study abroad but it simultaneously raised many reasons not to travel. But when there are so many uncertainties and risks when deciding to study abroad, sometimes it’s best to ignore these uncertainties, use your intuition and just take that leap of faith. 

Let’s do it – Why not!

Looking back on my decision to study abroad, it was a very quick and random one since I was working for a great company and held a great role, especially in the volatile economy we were in. Everyone was shocked with my decision but for me, it just felt right. I believe everyone writes their own book (their life story) and for a long time I felt I was missing a chapter in my book. One morning, I woke up and in a blink of an eye I figured out the missing chapter and decided to study abroad. I said to myself, “Let’s do it – why not!” ignoring all the uncertainties, investments and risks associated with my decision. Within 6 weeks on September 6th 2009, I stepped onto a 747 British Airways plane and took off to Lyon, France to begin my MBA. 

It’s all in how you plan it

The planning process is definitely not an easy task and at times a painful one even if you know what you want to do. The key to planning where you want to study abroad is exploring all your options – talk to everyone and anyone who has studied abroad, read forums on the Internet about the schools, contact admissions representatives. However, the X-FACTOR when deciding on a school and country is what the ALUMNI have to say. Why contact alumni? It’s simple, every school and country sound great on a website or by talking to school representatives (it is their job). But alumni provide the intangible information – their own experiences, their likes and dislikes of the program and challenges of living in a specific country and what they would do differently when deciding to study abroad.

What you can’t plan for

Preparing to study abroad was much more challenging than the actual experience of studying abroad. The amount of preparation, from the moment you start your applications to the last moments before you leave your home. You have to be on the ball when it comes to paperwork, payments, and scheduling and if you are not, living abroad will make you a changed person very quickly. On top of all the administrative responsibilities, packing for a couple of months or one year worth of stuff into a few suitcases is another challenge on its own.
Let’s get back to the question, to study abroad or not to study abroad. Even though the amount of preparation and time you invest researching, contacting institutions and getting ready to live abroad may seem overwhelming from moment you step off the plane but regardless of what happens – Get ready for one of the most incredible experiences of your life.

Arash is a Vestiigo member and future Consultant at Deloitte in Toronto, Ontario. He’s currently enrolled at the Grenoble Ecole de Management where he is studying to complete his MBA. Prior to undertaking his studies in business, he worked for a leading enterprise software company in their Client Services Delivery team.

Photo: Above photograph used under CC license