How to Balance School and Travel

School and Travel

There is a common misconception that student life and traveling are incompatible. On the one hand, it is almost impossible to find the time for a trip amidst constant assignments, projects, tests, exams, and other obligations. On the other hand, students’ budget is most likely unsuitable for considerable expenses related to traveling, especially considering the tuition fees they need to pay for their studies.

However, college years are, perhaps, the best time for exploring the world. In reality, after graduation, students will get even more obligations, much more serious than their lectures and research papers. Family, children, health coverages, jobs, scramble for office, rental payments, and a whole lot of other urgent issues will appear as a heavy burden with a variety of pursuits and duties, leaving no time, opportunity, ability, vigor, and even desire to go somewhere outside your city. At the same time, travel is a perfect educational tool that provides a chance to learn something new, broaden your horizons, acquire some useful skills, and gain invaluable experience, which is a perfect benefit for students.

Therefore, you should find a way, grab the slightest possibility, set the lessons aside for a while, and start on your journey, which may appear truly life-changing. Luckily, it is not such an unrealizable task as it may seem at first sight. Indeed, there are plenty of opportunities to see the world while still in college, from taking a gap year to studying abroad. Here are some ideas that you can use to help you out in balancing school and travel.

Schedule

The curriculum is the first thing that prevents students from packing their bags and setting out on a trip. It may seem a bad idea to skip the classes and exams just to enjoy themselves and jeopardize their academic career in the end. Thus, smart planning and scheduling is an advisable strategy if you want to balance school and travel. Of course, you may postpone the journey until graduation. However, that is only a humble excuse to conceal hesitation, uncertainty, fear, and lack of desire. Be brave and persistent! After all, there are plenty of ways to adjust your schedule and catch up with both traveling and studies.

Plan Ahead

First and foremost, you need to make sure that you do not skip any important exams or tests. Check the syllabus for all the courses you undertake. In them, instructors normally provide exact due dates for all the important assignments, projects, and exams. Communicate with the professors to figure out if any of them can be postponed or submitted/taken earlier. If the first option is possible, negotiate the acceptable later dates. In the second case, study more to complete and hand in some assignments and projects before the due date to secure the time for your journey. The remaining dates that cannot be shifted will be the starting point for scheduling your trip. They will inform the time when you must be in the area. In addition, make sure to preserve about a week to get prepared for the test.

Take a Break

A gap year or at least a gap semester may be a good option for a student who decides to travel while still in college. It is a legal and quite widely-acceptable way of taking a break in the study process, so you are not risking anything and will not feel guilty later. In addition, you may use this period to travel longer.

Study Online

The still ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has provided a wonderful opportunity for students to study while not on campus. Technological advances and the omnipresent Internet connection facilitate the process. Just make sure to have a laptop with you and not to get into too remote areas somewhere in the Amazon rainforests to get online at any moment.

Save Some Cash

The major reason for students’ hesitation about setting out on a journey is not even the time but money. It is not a secret that traveling requires considerable expenses for transportation, accommodation, meals, and all the accompanying needs during the trip. At the same time, education is not so cheap, and tuition fees and student loans cannot afford you to empty your bank account at the expense of your educational aspirations. Nevertheless, traveling should not obligatory be too stressful for your pocket. A bit of inventiveness can help to save some money for your dreams.

Get a Job

A part-time job is a wonderful option for students to save up money for their needs outside the college. There are plenty of occupational opportunities, including the ones you can engage in even during the trip. While on campus, it is possible to work as a waiter, a shop assistant, or a barista or to help in the library, gym, or some local company. You may also take any freelancing job as a photographer, tutor, or college admission essay writer, which will also allow you to earn something on the road.

Control Your Expenses

Now that you have visualized your dream, you need to head toward it by cutting down on extra expenses. Stop spending money on things you can do without, even if you have got used to them. Make coffee and cook at home instead of eating out each day. Refrain from buying new clothes if it is not vitally necessary. Try to stay away from parties and clubs. Walk or cycle instead of using a car or public transport. Buy used books. You will see that all those excesses are not necessary and saving on them can hasten the fulfillment of your dream.

Make Cheaper Choices

When planning a trip, search for cheaper options in terms of transportation and accommodation. Air tickets and hotels, for example, cost less during off-seasons. You can also avoid too popular and expensive destinations in favor of something simpler. Besides, sales, discounts, fare deals, credit card rewards, and low-costs are a perfect way of saving some money. Just be patient and persistent.

Additional Recommendations

Prioritize

Whatever your aspirations are, you need to set the right priorities. We know we have promised that combining studies and travel is not a problem and you should not postpone your dreams or forget about them altogether. Still, do not get too inspired, and do not lose your head in a rush. Be reasonable and plan wisely. Do not neglect important projects and exams that cannot be moved to other dates. Make sure to be in the classroom to take them timely. It is an investment in your future and needs to be regarded appropriately. At the same time, do not turn your studies into the only thing that matters. Too much pressure and overwork can lead to very serious physical and mental health problems. Thus, never hesitate to use the slightest opportunity to get away from the overwhelming assignments and instructors.

Take Advantage of Your Status

Your student status is a huge advantage that can help in both scheduling and budgeting while trying to balance your studies and traveling. First of all, numerous programs can help you to study abroad, allowing you to combine the two important issues of your life. Research to find out if any courses offer abroad units, exchange programs, or volunteer initiatives available in your institution. They can save you from the necessity of complicated planning, scheduling, and the risk of being late with some assignments or exams. Secondly, a variety of student discounts will be extremely useful in budgeting and saving some money.

Have a Nice Trip!

While it may seem that traveling is incompatible with studies because students tend to lack time and money for this, the time in college is the best chance to see the world since further adult life will make the effort even more complicated. As you can see, it is not very difficult to allot some time and save some money to make your dream a reality without sufficient harm to your academic career. The only thing you need is your desire. Well… in addition to reasonableness and a little planning.