Hi friends, hope we’re all keeping well.
After a rigorous application process, I recently received an exchange offer to study abroad for a semester in my 3rd year of college – at the University of Sydney in my second semester. It would be for a full college term, from February all the way until the end of the semester exams in mid-June. It would also be my first time ever going to Australia, and will probably the biggest challenge of my self-sufficiency and independence to date.
Before coming to college, I was dead-set, locked-in, and absolutely convinced that I would study abroad for at least one semester. I suppose I had glamorised the idea of a true college life: moving to a completely new place, living in a dorm with roommates next door, having full independence etc, these were all things I desperately wanted to try. But when your parents’ house is a 30 minute bus ride away from the college, some of those fantasies aren’t really practical. Which is why, I poured time and effort into my study abroad application, knowing it would be a competitive process this year and knowing how much I wanted this opportunity.
But now, having been in my current college for two years, this decision has become much more difficult for a myriad of reasons. And so, what better way to gain clarity on a tough decision than conducting a weighted pro-con analysis and writing a blog post about it? Let’s begin !
Pros👍🏻
- Fresh Exploration. The opportunity to explore one of the biggest student cities in the world, in a radically different environment on pretty much the other side of the world, seems like a no brainer. Additionally, I think the fact that I would be able to meet other international students from all over the world here too, would definitely be an interesting experience. Even though I don’t really know many attractions or landmarks in Australia, part of the exploration experience is the spontaneity and novelty of it all, so I think it is probably better this way!
Pro weighting: 5/5 - Independence. The longest I’ve essentially been by myself, without family beside me, was probably a month, during my DiscoverEu trip. I’ve also been to Gaeltachts (Irish language summer camps) and various summer camps in China for a few weeks too, but all of them lasted for pretty much 3 weeks maximum. Not to mention, I was under careful supervision and care during those times, and surrounded by friends and peers; some of whom I already knew. I’ve longed for a chance, an opportunity to achieve true independence and challenge myself. Would I become Bear Grylls? Survive and thrive? Starve to death (hopefully not…)? Regardless of what becomes of me, it is definitely worth it to at least try and see how I get on, I think !
Pro weighting: 3/5 - ‘ True’ College Life? Hanging out in a dorm with roommates and friends next door, meeting new people, forging core memories together etc, that was the ideal college life I had envisioned before graduating from secondary school. As it turns out, from talking to my international friends, that experience isn’t exactly accurate nor remotely near desirable, in many cases. That said, even if it is just for a semester, I think it would be worth it to gauge the experience and see how I fare.
Pro weighting: 2/5 - New Friendships. Ugh, the most cliché and cringy one of all, but of course I have to put it in. In just two years of my current college life, I’m pleased to say I have met some of the funniest, kindest, friendliest and most interesting people in my life. Perhaps this is greed, but honestly I want to experience more, and meet even more interesting people. This is obviously a gamble, and I don’t expect to forge friendships in one semester as deep as the ones I currently have after 2 years. But I know with this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to go abroad, I will absolutely not let it go nor go to waste.
Pro weighting: 5/5
Cons👎🏻
- Uncertainty. All the pros I’ve listed above, are all dependent on everything working out. I get a good student accommodation, I meet new friends, I have a good experience etc. But that can easily not be the case too. During the DiscoverEU trip, there were times I was, quite frankly, not very happy with the places I was staying. There could very well be a chance that I just don’t end up liking Sydney, nor the whole ‘studying abroad’ spiel after all. The idea scares me, but it’s the truth and something that requires a realistic view and preparation for.
Con weighting: 2/5 - Opportunity Cost. This is the big-hitting one, and the factor that ultimately sparked this whole dilemma in the first place. The same day I had received an exchange offer to study abroad in Sydney, I also received a call from the incoming Chief Investment Officer of the Trinity SMF (Student Managed Fund), which I was pretty actively involved in. I had done an interview for the advanced role of Senior Analyst and Sector Manager a week ago, and the CIO was calling to inform me I was successful in getting the position of Sector Manager for the Real Estate sector. These positions were pretty big deals, and meant you got a lot more hands on with the society and learnt a huge ton more. This position offer ultimately made me realise: I had studied in Trinity for two years…and I kinda like it here now. The societies I’ve joined and the great friends I have now, are all here.
The sacrifice of a semester here incurs a more expensive opportunity cost than I previously thought. I forego prospects of higher roles and positions in societies I’m actively involved in, and I miss out on annual events and opportunities that only happen/become available in the 2nd semester, like Launchbox, Dragons Den and all of the student balls. That stings quite a bit when I think about it, and really does make the decision a lot harder.
Con weighting: 6/5
So, I’m actually writing this blog post in retrospect, since I have actually made my decision a while ago already.
The night I had gotten the exchange offer and offer of SMF sector manager (SM), was probably the roughest, craziest, and most mentally stressful night of my college life so far. Both offers were insanely good. The offer of SM also represented everything else I could achieve and have if I stayed in Trinity for the full year. I remember on that night, I had called my current SM for his advice, as well as two of my closest college friends. They all gave extremely solid and reasonable perspectives, but I ultimately used that to my disadvantage and made the decision process more difficult.
I remember the ultimate deciding factor, however, was funny enough, an extremely short 20 second conversation with another friend of mine, who was an outgoing sector manager for the SMF and was going to study abroad in South Korea next year. I had bumped into her on the way out of class, and in that panicked and frenzied state, simply went straight to the point and bluntly asked her why she chose to go on an exchange, rather than stay in Trinity and advance with the SMF (and ultimately other stuff in Trinity).
She replied with, what was at the time for me, the coldest one-liner I had ever heard:
“The SMF and Trinity will always be here. The opportunity to go on an exchange is once in a lifetime”
Looking back, this was kind of obvious, and what most of my friends were also telling me at the time I think. But when dumbed down to this one, single line that is being told to me in a quick, passing conversation, for some reason just made everything fall into place for me. This of course does not erase the opportunity cost, nothing ever will. It is a hard decision, but I ultimately decided that this opportunity falls more in line with what I want to get out of my college life, and is truly a ‘once in a lifetime’ opportunity for me.
Thanks so much for reading this far if you did! Stay stay, healthy and happy👋🏻
Photo credit:
Creator: Benh LIEU SONG
Copyright: CC-by-SA 4.0
Rebellious 
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