Attending college requires a commitment of both time and money. Whether you're interested in a bachelor's degree or something more, you're looking at a minimum of four years in most cases. While you can save some money by starting at the community college level to complete your general education, chances are you're still going to be out several thousand dollars (or even several hundred thousand, depending on your school and degree program) by the time you're done.
Some students get help from their parents to pay for expenses, and many hold part-time or even full-time jobs. Most have to rely on student aid in the form of grants, loans, and scholarships to make their dreams of higher education come true.
What this all boils down to is that you may not have the time or money to travel in college, even though this is an ideal phase for travel in a young adult's life because there is no job, mortgage, or family to impede picking up and visiting parts unknown. How can you find the time and money to travel while you're in college? Here are a few suggestions.
Study Abroad
There is no better option for traveling during your time in college than a study abroad program that allows you to see the world while continuing to earn credit toward your degree. There are many benefits to choosing this option.
If you join a program through your college, chances are you can visit a sister school in another country under the agreement that you'll simply continue paying the same price as you do for tuition at your school domestically. In other words, you won't really face any extra expense (although this could depend on whether you're placed in dorms or with a host family).
In addition, you won't have to carve time out of your schedule since your travel will be linked to your ongoing education. It's a no-lose scenario in which your finances and time spent on education remain virtually the same while you gain the opportunity to explore another country.
Take Online Classes
When you elect to earn your MBA degree online, you can study and participate in your program from virtually anywhere. Online courses also offer flexible scheduling that allows students to work and save money for travel. Plus, some programs are less expensive than attending traditional classes on campus. All in all, this could be a great way to save some time and money in order to travel in college.
Take a Year Off
This isn't a popular choice for students attending Boston College, Columbia, UCLA, or any other school, for obvious reasons. Taking time off can derail your progress in a number of ways, not the least of which is that your student loan payments will come due the minute you leave school.
Of course, you can always defer, but without student loans coming in to pay your living expenses you'll have to work if you want to earn some money to travel. Still, where there's a will, there's a way. You could spend a year working and living like a hermit to save enough money to travel for, say, six months if you live very frugally.
It's obviously not the ideal solution for anyone attempting to earn a degree, but if you've got the travel bug, taking some time off from school will at least free up your schedule. From there you can figure out how to earn the money to fund your expedition before you return to school.
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