Once you leave your comfort zone, you will gain a sense of independence; it takes a lot of strength to admit what you want and pursue it. An obvious benefit of doing a semester or more abroad is that you can travel to places you've never visited before, further than you would as a tourist, gaining an understanding of the culture. Your vision of the world will be considerably broadened by this experience and your desire to travel (temporarily) put at bay. Unlike studying at home, you will be exposed to new experiences daily and can explore a broader catalog of career opportunities. Additionally, you will likely find other students interested in the field of work you are interested in, gaining a valuable network for future business or consultations. Overall, you will gain valuable real-world experience that will likely help you in your education or career later in life; an experience that you could not have on your own