The PROS and CONS of studying overseas

Christiaan Cronje

There are currently more than 12 000 South African students studying overseas. A recent study by Brandmapp further indicated that more than a million South African students are keen on the prospect of studying abroad. In Shakespeare’s time the big question was: ‘To be, or not to be?’ but it seems like the big question of our generation is: ‘to go, or not to go?’

Let’s look at the pros and cons of studying in another country, with a different language and a foreign culture to what we as Paul Roosers are used to.

One of the most obvious advantages of studying at a university in the USA or Europe, is that it will expose you to a different culture and way of doing things. Seeing that PRG is by far the best school on the planet, it might be an eye-opening experience to encounter pockets of excellence in other countries and seeing how things are done differently. South African schools in general have more or less the same methods of teaching and follow the same methodology.

It is likely that international universities will make use of alternative teaching methods that can only enhance the way that we learn. Studying in a foreign country will lead to a very independent lifestyle, without any form of support from close family. This independence will naturally lead to self-assurance, as you will gain the confidence of surviving independently. A natural consequence of being uprooted and being taken out of one’s comfort zone is that you are forced to take your networking skills to the next level. Studying with an international group of students broadens one’s network and coupled with the great network that PRG provides, will lead to endless possibilities and standard at the overseas universities is much higher than that of our local universities.

Old boy, Carl Roothman (Class of 2021) is studying at Oklahoma State University on a tennis scholarship and is finding the academic side easy to manage for a “Freshman”.

The routine and discipline taught at

Although there are thousands of happy students that have successfully left our shores to broaden their horizons, there are also those who have either come back disillusioned or have hated every second of their time overseas. According to Christine Kruger (Bloemhof 2021), the biggest challenge is being lonely and far from loved ones. Home sickness have to deal with it on your own. The biggest negative to leaving South Africa to study at an overseas university is probably the prohibitive costs. Tuition fees can range from $30 000 to $75 000 per year, excluding pocket money, transport and entertainment. The question is: is an overseas degree worth between five and ten times its equivalent in South Africa? worldwide connections.

It can definitely be argued that the potential income, opportunities and worldwide network is worth any amount if it can be afforded. The bigger question is, however, that once a student leaves our shores to study overseas, they seldom return. They get married to a foreigner and raise a family in that country. Can South Africa afford to lose all our talent, or is the risk worth it to maybe produce another Elon Musk that might change the world?

Being able to put an international qualification on your CV will not only enhance your resume, but will also increase your professional opportunities, which will affect the pay scale on which you will enter the workforce, especially should you want to come back to South Africa.

A frequently asked question is if the is real, and FOMO is not only the fear of missing out, but a daily concern that friends and family are making memories back home without you. When things go wrong, a quick flight is not an option. Dealing with these challenges on your own can either harden your resolve, build your character or break you. Whatever the situation, you will

PRG is helping him adapt to the pressurised environment of high-level sport and academic achievement at such a prestigious university. Carl is also further impressed by the support he receives from the academic advisors and customized subject choices to suit individual needs, especially at undergrad level.

In conclusion, we are indeed a privileged generation that has the opportunity to choose between Maties, Harvard, Oxford or any other great university or college from around the world. It is becoming increasingly easier to get into any of these universities, or to gain sponsorships or bursaries. The world has become our oyster and the future is in our hands.

Wherever you decide to further your studies, you will be distinguished from your peers because the Pride, Respect and Gentlemanship taught at PRG are unique and powerful values in this world! Good Luck.