How to Salvage Your Study Abroad Semester Canceled Due to Covid

By Victoria Robertson on December 19, 2020

Studying abroad is one of the biggest perks of attending a college or university. It’s not only an experience in which you can learn a lot of information regarding your specific program (and in the real world), but it’s also an experience in which you’ll become more cultured, worldly and, ultimately, get bit by the travel bug.

That all being said, a worldwide pandemic has put a damper on the usual study abroad experience in many ways, one of which being the cancelation of a study abroad semester. If you find yourself in the latter category, here are a few ways you can salvage your study abroad semester.

Photo Via Pixabay

1. Still Do Your Research

Studying abroad involves real-world experiences in a new setting. While you won’t be able to partake in that real-world setting in a literal sense, you can still read up on the country you were going to visit and learn what you can in a literary sense.

There is plenty of information to research about the various study abroad countries, and while it’s not nearly as fun as actually attending a study abroad program, immersing yourself in a new culture can be done in a variety of ways.

2. Immerse Yourself (and Your Roomies) at Home

Just because you’re not going to the country you were going to be studying abroad in, doesn’t mean that you can’t still immerse yourself in the culture, experience and other elements, just from your own home. And, as an added bonus, involve your roommates in the process!

You can make traditional cuisines, watch foreign films, and otherwise discuss and attempt to recreate some of the fun traditions that you would have taken part in had you studied abroad.

3. Take Part in the Activities You Would Have Missed

When studying abroad, we miss out on everything going on back at the university. For some, this means missing sporting events, for others, this means missing concerts, parties, or other big events that you would typically partake in.

So, rather than sitting around, make sure you partake in those activities! Now that you have the freedom to do so, you should really make the most of your college experience and don’t miss out on any of the activities you’re interested in. Make the most of your time.

4. Take Part in New Activities

That all being said, study abroad is completely about doing something new and exciting. However, studying abroad is not the only way to accomplish such a thing. In fact, you can partake in new and exciting things right around your campus.

Challenge yourself to try something new (at least one thing, if not more) during the canceled semester. This way, you’re not just sitting around and partaking in another, ordinary semester, but you’re actually getting a little more out of the semester than you would have otherwise.

5. Talk to an Academic Advisor

While this isn’t many people’s idea of fun, talking to an academic advisor is necessary, especially if you need to change up your schedule prior to the canceled semester. Basically, touching base with an academic advisor will not only help to ensure you are on track to graduate, but will also present any open doors that weren’t an option previously.

If you have the bandwidth at this point, it’s a good idea to start working ahead and take on classes you wouldn’t have been able to if you were studying abroad. This way, you’ll be freed up to study abroad in future semesters, or perhaps even just take classes you weren’t sure you would be able to otherwise.

6. Don’t Sit Around and Do Nothing

Last, but certainly not least, as it’s perhaps the most important item on this list: do not sit around and do nothing. Thinking about a canceled experience is upsetting and feels unfair, and in many ways, it is. Still, moping around the apartment or dorm about it will do nothing but continue the misery.

So, move forward, make future plans, and make sure you’re taking advantage of the semester ahead of you, even if you’re not spending it where you intended to. So long as you keep a positive attitude and look to the future, you’ll survive the semester just fine, and have plenty of experiences to look forward to in the semesters ahead.

Just because your study abroad experience was canceled doesn’t have to mean that you sit around on campus and do nothing. Salvaging your study abroad semester, while not ideal, can be done, and should be done!

The college experience is one that you should be able to take part in fully, so make the most of your situation and try not to feel too down about it. We are all in the same boat and making sacrifices due to these unforeseen circumstances, so work with what you’ve got!

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