As awesome as going abroad for undergrad is, going to grad school is even better.
First, let’s start with the obvious. Through your undergrad studies, you’ve got a great network Stateside, but as the world becomes increasingly tight-knit, having some connections across the ocean is definitely helpful.
Next, speaking of networks, there is an incredible amount of scholarship that happens outside of the United States that never makes it to the academic mainstream here. You’ll have access to the debates that are raging overseas, as well as maintaining a solid foundation in what you learned as an undergrad. In short, you’ll have more expert knowledge upon which to draw.
Additionally, the ability to focus on one particular sub-field is wonderful.
Want to study religions of South Asia? Done.
What about the study of tropical diseases? There’s a whole school dedicated to that.
Or maybe your interests revolve more about qualitative finance in the Asia-Pacific region? Not only can you study that, but the institutes for these three are within a few blocks of each other in London! Meanwhile, tuition at grad programs in exciting cities like Prague, Milan, or Beijing are just a few thousand dollars.
There are other advantages, not the least of which is time. A masters degree typically takes just a year overseas, and a PhD can be finished in three. That means that you’ll be able to focus on your work and finish.
US Federal Loans, be they Direct Loans or Graduate PLUS Loans, often do work overseas (just not everywhere, FYI). This means that you can largely fund your studies on Uncle Sam’s dime. However, we’re all about finding ways to help you save money before it comes to loans.