In my opinion, this is a sometimes overlooked yet totally legitimate reason to study abroad. Maybe a class that’s offered will help you get credit for your degree, or maybe you just really like the course offerings at a particular school that you can’t enroll in at home, but either way, going to school in a different country almost guarantees there will be a larger number of courses and course material that you won’t be able to experience at your University in the States.
While I was in Scotland I took Melanesian Anthropology, The Mongols and the West, Medieval Castles, and Anthropology: Regional Ethnography – none of which were offered at Holy Cross. Some people may say that those classes aren’t very practical and/or relevant, but they were some of the most interesting classes I’ve ever taken, and you have no idea how many times I’ve been able to use my knowledge of Genghis Khan and the Mongol Empire in everyday situations.
You’ll also have the opportunity to learn in a setting completely different from what you’re used to. It could be that you’re being taught in a different language, that you’re learning on-site or in an outdoor classroom, or sitting in a lecture hall with 200 international students (which would probably only be exciting for those of use from smaller schools).
You may find that you learn more efficiently in a different atmosphere, you may respond well to a new style of teaching, and who knows, you may even find a certain course or subject that rekindles your desire to learn.