The speaker feels that, although student study abroad programs may be costly, they are worth the investment and that colleges should therefore require their students to study abroad. I, however, believe that such programs should be voluntary, not mandatory, and that students should be made aware of both the benefits and drawbacks of traveling abroad before making a decision

The claim that colleges should require their students to study in a foreign country is misguided. It is true that, in today’s globalized world, the value of having an international experience cannot be overemphasized. However, since the cost of studying abroad is often prohibitive, it is unrealistic for a college to require their students to participate. Indeed, requiring them to do so may lead to sub-par experiences, as students who cannot afford to study abroad may simply choose to stay home and study at their local college. Of course, some students, such as those attending wealthy institutions, may be able to make such a trip on their own. However, many college freshmen, who are still establishing their footing, may lack the means to do so. Furthermore, even if students are able to finance the trip on their own, they will be unable to focus exclusively on their studies. If, for example, they take a few classes while abroad, they will be unable to devote their full attention to them. As a result, they may fail those classes, which in turn may affect their future academic careers. In addition, some students may resent being forced to pay for a program they do not wish to participate in

For all of the aforementioned reasons, I believe that study abroad programs should be voluntary. Once students enroll, colleges should provide them information about the programs offered and allow them to select which program they would like to attend. These choices should include not only programs within their country, but also abroad. Colleges should also allow students to study abroad on a full or part-time basis. Students at colleges and universities with smaller student populations should have a greater opportunity to go abroad, since they will have fewer classmates to compete against. Additionally, colleges using federal financial aid, such as the Pell Grant, should ensure that students are not disproportionately burdened with the cost of international travel. Such measures will ensure that students are able to pursue their educational goals, regardless of their financial resources.