Studying Abroad Gives Graduate School Hopefuls a Competitive Edge

“A student who has lived in another culture … learns an adaptive skill that translates to being a more effective manager,” says Dr. Roy A. Herberger Jr., president of Thunderbird Graduate School, which has been ranked No. 1 in international business by U.S. News & World Report for eight consecutive years.

Preparation for graduate school starts in a student’s undergraduate years, but still only 5 percent of undergraduate students actually study abroad, according to officials at Cultural Experiences Abroad (CEA), a study abroad provider based in Tempe, Ariz. By studying abroad, a student can spruce up his résumé by demonstrating the experiences learned and knowledge gained in studying and/or working in a diverse environment.

CEA emphasizes the need for students to expand their education on an international level.

“Obtaining an international education gives the American student a new understanding of different cultures through being immersed in a society, not only in the language … but also the political/economic climate that has grown out of years of history and its effect on peoples behaviors, mannerisms and traditions,” says Brian Boubek, president of CEA.