In recent years, tuition for four-year universities has never been higher. The average cost of tuition last year for a California state school was a sticker price of around $16,000 a year. Out-of-state schools average around $40,000 a year as well. Private Universities are even more expensive, with really big schools such as the University of Southern California or Pepperdine University hitting around $100,000 a year.
With many families not being able to afford these hefty prices, they look for more reasonable options, such as a community college.
However, what if there was a chance to explore the world at just about the same cost as an in-state tuition?
There are various companies that help aspiring college students to study abroad. One of them is Kaplan International Pathways. Kaplan helps students settle into the nation that they choose to study in, along with visa immigration, as well as being directly involved with their partner universities.
Kaplan gives students the chance to study abroad in countries such as the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
The cost for one year of study abroad would be around $20,000 a year, with room and board included. Furthermore, countries such as England, Belgium, Finland, Switzerland and Italy all offer three-year bachelor’s degree programs; there will be an additional $20,000 in savings if chosen to complete a degree in three years.
However, most schools overseas require prerequisites to get into these courses, such as a certain number of fours and fives on AP tests, depending on major. The choice to take the course in four years through a foundation year has easier prerequisites.
Another advantage of studying abroad is meeting different people and getting to experience different cultures. There would be many other students coming in from different countries to study as well, so the community is very diverse on campus.
With there being fewer language offerings at Aliso Niguel, the chance to study abroad in countries that speak different languages, such as France, Spain and Brazil ingrain a second language that will stick in everyday life.
Senior Ava Dargert has been optimistic about doing a year of study abroad or even studying at an International University full-time. “I want to do architecture, so being able to see other countries’ techniques and styles would be helpful and also a dream of mine. It will give me inspiration and also further understanding of their culture as well.”
Senior Dylan Kim is also interested in studying abroad as well. “I have always wanted to study abroad in Korea, where I can immerse myself in my roots, where my parents came from. I definitely think that more students should look into programs which offer international study.”
There are some things to keep in mind about studying internationally. If a student decides to study abroad through Kaplan, some countries require a basic level of understanding of the language. For example, the United Kingdom hosts the International English Language Testing System, which is around a three-hour test consisting of speaking as well as writing. In order to study in the United Kingdom, the IELTS test has to be passed in order to learn overseas there.
