There are some general misconceptions about what to expect from an education abroad. From language to safety, from costs to fun, here we tackle some of the top myths under 9 categories.

Myth: You will miss speaking your own language

Reality: Yes, you will not be speaking your mother tongue as often as you would like to, and this is understandable. However, do keep in mind that a large part of the reason you are considering a foreign education is because you want to be exposed to a global work culture and the opportunity to be a part of an international workforce.

Secondly, you are likely to be studying in an English medium institution, and if you are reading this article, you probably have a good level of fluency in the language.

Finally, you will find a lot of people from your own nationality to speak your own language. You will find that nation-wise communities will form automatically and come together for things like food, festivals and as a local support group.

Myth: Foreign students will experience racism

Reality: Racism is much less of a problem today than it was in the past. The world is now more connected than ever. People are more aware than before. And cell phone cameras are ubiquitous. Pockets of racism do exist all over the world, including our home country. However, it is fairly simple to manage. You will find that college towns and university campuses are generally some of the safest places that you can find because every year 1000s of students from all over the world come through these institutions. The locals understand that foreign students help their economy because they buy local products and services. They need you to study there for the daily income.

Myth: Everything is Expensive

Reality: From Soho in London to the rural African town, different economies are expensive in different ways. Taking an example closer-to-home for instance, Mumbai is expensive in real estate, but cheap in food. On the other hand, Delhi is cheaper in real estate and expensive for food. Similarly, across the world, locals have their own ways of distributing their budget across the cheap and the expensive. For example, in Chicago or New York, you may want to buy your winter clothes at a 50% discount sale in the summer. Or in the UK, you will want to save your money by shopping at charity shops, which provide extremely high-quality clothes, books, shoes and everything else at extremely discounted rates. In some parts of the world, you will find that it is cheaper to eat out than to cook at home.

Depending on where you are going, look out for the hyper-local cost-saving hacks and you won’t find everything too expensive.

Myth: You will miss home, and your culture

Reality: No! You will not miss Diwali (if you’re Indian) or Chinese New Year (if you are Chinese). You will find plenty of other students like you feeling the same way and you will form new communities throughout the year. Yes, it will be different from the scale of the celebrations at home but think of these few years as an opportunity to create your own celebrations, as an ambassador of your own culture to the world.

Myth: You will automatically be safe

Just because you are going to a first-world country doesn’t mean that it is automatically safer. Like anywhere in the world, you will find some bad elements that would resort to crime as a way of life. Again, it is about understanding the socio-economic conditions of your surroundings. While some places may be safer from sexual harassment on the street, that same college town may suffer harassment at social gatherings. You may not get your pocket picked, but your digital cards may get robbed wirelessly.

Myth: Foreign Degree = Foreign Job

Reality: Studying abroad increases your chances of working abroad dramatically. In fact, if you study in one of the top 50 global universities you are highly likely to get a job in the destination of your choice. The probability is very high. That said, there is no guarantee that you will get a job abroad after your degree. Getting a job depends on your academic performance, networking efforts and your soft skills.

Therefore to safely manage your expectations, work really hard to get into a top 50 university; then ensure you keep your grades consistently high; make sure you focus on extracurriculars like founding a college club; network smart; and be open to absorbing the best of other cultures to help polish your soft skills.

Myth: It is going to be a big party

Reality: Some student towns have a reputation for being great for an active social scene. There are also entire countries that are known for a nation-wide drinking problem. However, your time abroad is not only going to be a big party like you’ve seen in Hollywood movies. You must understand that movies portray only the most extreme situations for the sake of entertainment. This is not real life. You will find that “Work Hard and Party Hard” will be the motto of some of the most successful people in your class and your future workplace. All of them work extremely hard first, and finally reward themselves by partying hard.

Myth: Studying abroad is no different than traveling

Reality: If you are going to study for the primary reason of traveling, forget it right now. At less than half the cost of your foreign education, you will be able to travel for much longer. You will be able to do some travel during your degree, but it cannot be your primary reason for paying the fees. You are gaining a world-class education, experience of operating in a foreign culture, and the opportunity to find work abroad – things that travel cannot bring you.