Is Your Student Considering Studying Abroad?

Dear Parent, 

Every student with a desire to see the world or a need to succeed at least thinks about it, and thousands of American students do it every year: study abroad.  Even when international relations are tense and unsure, students from around the country and around the world pack their bags and head into a foreign world looking for a different perspective.  If your student is considering studying abroad, here are a few things we’d like to pass along to you for consideration. 

How safe is it, really? The answer lies in where you'd like to go. England? France? Spain? Even if Europeans might not be as happy with Americans as they used to be, Europe still welcomes American students (and their money, too). The Middle East? That's a whole different set of parameters. A lot of schools have stopped accepting applications and have pulled students out of war torn countries. It depends on where the school is and what the current climate is, and how volatile. 

What about paying for study abroad? Most schools have programs built into their curriculum that will allow students to pay the same tuition to their home school but study somewhere else as a visiting student. Another option is to take a semester off from the home school and then pay tuition at the foreign school. Your school's Study Abroad Office will be key in ironing out these kinds of details. They'll know the ins and outs of overseas travel and study, especially when it comes to forms. They can also point you to students who have been through the program and who will give you practical advice…like this tidbit we heard from a student who studied in Greece: sew a Canadian flag on your backpack. It'll keep the anti-American sentiment off your back, at least on the surface. Sneakers and baseball caps are dead giveaways.

Students will also have to pick up the tab for flights and expenses while living abroad which can really add up, so they should again turn to their study abroad office to see if they offer scholarships. If not, they might know where scholarships are available. Loans are also an option, as is, of course, saving up in advance.

Seems like a lot of work, right? But, the vast majority of students who do study abroad say the experience is more than worth it, if not for what they learn, but to get a better view and perspective of what it's like to be a global citizen.  If your student is even considering studying abroad, be sure to begin to check into the process now.  It is always best to have all the facts in advance so you can make an informed decision!

Until next month…Best Wishes!

Randy Stoltz, President