Resources For Parents & Families

The thought of sending your child abroad can be daunting, but it doesn’t need to be.  This guide will help prepare you and your child for the journey that is study abroad.

FINANCES

• Be open and honest with your student about what you will and will not help pay for.
• Consider having a joint checking account so that you can easily provide funds to your student while abroad, if need be.
• Encourage your student to meet with the financial aid coordinator for study abroad to discuss what can be covered by federal aid, grants or loans. Also, encourage your student to explore the numerous scholarship opportunities available to students studying abroad

COMMUNICATION

• Set clear expectations for communication while abroad.  Keep in mind your student is in an exciting new place, and may want to focus more on their time abroad, so keeping in contact with home may be a lower priority.
• Remember: traveling can be a lengthy and exhausting process, and your student may not be able to contact you right when the flight lands, but may need to wait until reaching the final destination of a hotel or dorm room, which may be several hours later.
• Encourage your student to blog about his or her experience! It is a great way for you to stay updated on the study abroad experience, and allows your student to have time to reflect on his or her time abroad.
• Considering using Skype, Facetime, and other apps or social media sites  as a low cost way to keep in touch.

HEALTH AND SAFETY

• Keep a copy of your child’s passport and other important documents with you, along with his/her in-country contact information.
• There is a pre-departure orientation for students and parents in which health and safety topics are discussed.
• There are in-country orientations which repeat and add additional health and safety information.