BORDERLESS WITH BROOKLYN: Graduate school abroad an option to consider

 By: Brooklyn Middleton / Assistant Opinion Editor

Brooklyn Middleton / Assistant Opinion Editor

In the piles of paperwork for various graduate school programs that have started to accumulate on my desk, a critical issue remains: I have absolutely no idea how I am going to finance graduate school in a way that is realistic and logical, particularly as the United States remains in a poor economic state  and the job market outlook continues to be utterly depressing.  An excellent alternative to avoiding the real world, continuing education and not incurring high debt is pursuing a graduate degree abroad.

It is understood that if one wants to acquire a graduate degree, he or she will have to take out copious amounts of student loans. This is unsatisfying for several obvious reasons.  Firstly, one would rather not continue to accumulate student loan debt.  Furthermore, the pressure to obtain a career that will immediately start paying down a seemingly unconquerable debt is too stressful.  According to CNNMoney,  the average college student graduates with $24,000 in debt, and that is just for undergraduate coursework.  According to the “SmartStudent Guide to Financial Aid,”  the average debt accrued by a student for a master’s degree is $25,000, which leaves a graduate with almost $50,000 in loans.

In addition to living the life of an expat for awhile, there are some great advantages to studying abroad for a graduate degree. The procedures for applying can be quite similar to that of the U.S., but it can often be an easier process, as many schools abroad do not require entrance exams such as the GRE, GMAT or LSAT.

In most European countries, graduate school is a fraction of the cost in the U.S.   Take Sweden for example.  As  Sarah Menkedick, a writer for “Matador Abroad,” writes, “Graduate school is free. The website for Uppsala University announces this nonchalantly, as if the whole world lived in the calm socialist paradise that is Sweden.”

Such is the case in Norway, where higher education is also free of charge. South Africa, Mexico, Spain and Germany offer extremely competitive prices.  Furthermore, federal U.S. loans can be used abroad at approved institutions.

In addition to going abroad for graduate school because of how cost effective it is, pursuing an international education also brings forth less tangible factors of equal importance.  Positive growth is inevitable because it presents a highly independent experience. For students who did not have the finances, during earlier college years, there is now a chance to finally do so.

Learning a new language and being forced to acclimate to a culture outside of your own gives one a  much needed crash course in the real world. The occasional loneliness and awareness that you are a foreigner can lead to a much-needed growth spurt of independence.

So, while you finish your application to Harvard Graduate School and begin negotiating loan terms with Sallie Mae, consider going abroad for your degree.  It will save you thousands and will cause you to grow both intellectually and personally.

“Borderless with Brooklyn” is a biweekly column examining world events.