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Unfortunately, I come bearing bad news.

For those considering spending next semester in Austria, Zimbabwe, or anywhere in between, but haven’t had the time to act, it looks like you might be stuck in Cambridge, as the deadline for applying to have a transfer credit approved-study abroad next semester just passed. All is not lost, though — unless you are a senior, there are plenty of future opportunities for you to participate in one of the most unique experiences a university can offer.

Currently, Harvard reports that over 50 percent of undergraduates study abroad during their time in Cambridge. That might sound high to some. Yet, with the amount of options that we have for study abroad, including during the semester or over the summer, that number is actually too low.

Every student, whether for an entire semester or just a summer, should study abroad at least once during their time in college. Just as Harvard advertises itself as a transformative experience, living and learning across the world — while still earning college credit — can fundamentally reshape a student’s educational experience.

Yet why do so many students forgo this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity? Many likely shy away because of the massive opportunity cost, particularly in doing a full semester of study abroad: they simply are afraid that they will miss out on what’s happening back in Cambridge. Even studying abroad during the summer can seem risky, as it would necessarily interfere with a summer internship. In fairness, a lot can happen in 3 months, especially at Harvard, and I understand that internships can be important in building your resume.

But these apprehensions miss the mark. In focusing on what they might lose by not being in Cambridge, students discount what they will gain by living in a foreign country. Instead of learning about endangered species in a classroom, you can actively interact with and protect them. Why learn about Italian Renaissance art on this side of the pond when you can see it yourself?

Others that avoid study abroad believe that a Harvard education is too valuable, too precious to sacrifice even one semester away. Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Stephen W. Stromberg ’05, a former Crimson Editorial Chair, certainly thought so. He argued in these hallowed pages many moons ago that the “study” in study abroad was a misnomer and, in reality, most undergraduates lack the formal academic training to transform study abroad beyond an extended vacation.

This perspective ignores the peculiar challenges of study abroad — especially in cultural and linguistic immersion programs — which don’t necessarily manifest themselves in hours-long exams or 20-page papers. The skills developed by overcoming the adversity of being dropped in a foreign place and adapting to a new, often seemingly strange environment can be incredibly valuable. In fact, the exposure to diverse environments and requisite adaptability that studying abroad imparts upon you are among the most important skills one can have in today’s fast-paced, diverse world.

Those who study abroad also acquire new perspectives on problems in life. Issues that might have seemed all-consuming before — like petty friendship drama, grade anxiety, or onerous club comp processes — recede to insignificance when compared to experiences of navigating foreign countries with a dead phone and a shaky sense of direction. Many have emphasized the importance of leaving the Harvard bubble. With study abroad, you’re not just escaping it — you’re renouncing it altogether, leading to a more mature, measured perspective when you return to campus.

Another benefit of studying abroad is its lack of structure. Like life on campus, students are released into the environment, only required to attend class and complete some not-too-heavy coursework. What’s different is that students abroad are not tied down by the mountain of meetings and club work that consume most peoples’ days in Cambridge. This newfound time can be freeing; students can travel within their region and explore their interests that they never would have had the time or opportunity to had they stayed on campus.

In this way, students are exposed to new perspectives and experiences, making them more knowledgeable, global citizens. In this manner, what some might criticize as a weakness of studying abroad is actually its strength.

However, the strongest argument in favor of study abroad is also the simplest: If not now, then when? At what point later in your life can you simply give up everything and immerse yourself in a completely new culture for months on end? The 2024 senior survey found just over ten percent of Harvard graduates plan to live internationally, with the bulk of them, one can presume, returning to their home country after college.

Thus, the overwhelming majority of students will stay in the US, where they will inevitably become tied down by responsibilities — like their job and, eventually, familial obligations. So, consider this: There will always be time to hunt for jobs, expand our networks, and learn new skills. But, for the vast majority of us, this is the last opportunity in our lives where we can experience life in an entirely new place without anything holding you back.

We should take it.

Henry F. Haidar ’28, a Crimson Editorial editor, is an Applied Math concentrator in Lowell House.