Study Abroad

When in college, take full advantage of the chance to study abroad. Study abroad programs offer a unique chance to experience a new culture, learn a new language, or at least slather a baguette with Nutella and refer to it as "dinner."

One of the nicest features of study abroad programs is the people involved in them. You may always be able to spend time in Vienna, but rarely will you have the chance to spend time in Vienna with that chick from Sarah Lawrence College, and that guy who wore the cowboy hat, and the dude who got really sick on the train ride to Berlin. Remember that guy? Yeah, me too.

All this aside, a young person will not have many other chances in life to spend significant portions of time overseas with other like-minded Americans without joining the military, where the selection of art history courses is somewhat limited.

Where should you go? Most of the major cities of Europe make fine choices for study abroad. Resist the temptation to choose Amsterdam, as this choice will cause those examining your resume later in life to not take you seriously.

Study abroad programs in South East Asia, Australia, and South America are also all fine options, although these come with increased risk (respectively) of Bird Flu, boomerangs, and la Revolución.

If you're black, choosing study abroad in South Africa will make people think you're contemplative and interested in social justice. If you're white, choosing South Africa will make people wonder if you might be racist. If you're Asian, well, do whatever you want.

Bon Voyage!