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The Next Adventure
Parenting Strategies – March 2010
Copyright © 2010 by Kay Kimball Gruder, SuccessfulCollegeParenting.com and Susan M. Atkins
A couple of years ago I advised a sophomore student from the Bronx, who was interested in studying abroad in Italy. She was experiencing resistance from her mother who could not understand why her daughter needed to study in Italy when she had already left New York City to attend college in Massachusetts. Another student I advised was afraid to approach his parents about studying in Africa, because he felt they had some pretty strong opinions about which countries would be safe and which would be unsafe. These two scenarios just scratch the surface of the many different concerns and preconceptions that can emerge when our children seek to go abroad. Of course there are also students who have already studied or traveled abroad even before attending college, but whichever the case, it is rare for parents not to have questions and concerns.
Sue Atkins, International Education Consultant shares:
Once your student has settled into the college experience there are many opportunities for him or her to try on their own wings in preparation for, quite literally, the world beyond college. Your student can explore and expand career and academic interests while interning, by getting involved in faculty-student research, participating in service-learning, and by the life-changing experience of studying in another country through a study abroad program.
In 2009, the Institute for International Education stated that “a record number of U.S. students are choosing to study abroad, reflecting a strong commitment to the value of an international academic experience to prepare them to live and work in a more global society. Open Doors 2009 reports the number of Americans studying abroad increased by 8.5% to 262,416 in the 2007/08 academic year.’’*
Study abroad programs can take on various formats, such as a short one-week faculty-led program, a January or summer program to learn another language, or a semester or year abroad exploring an academic major and minor through the lens of another part of the world. No matter which experience your son or daughter chooses, going abroad provides your son or daughter with the opportunity to navigate a number of options and opportunities, and to gain and enhance life-skills that arise when one is confronted with the unfamiliar. It is often challenging to balance being supportive with allowing your son or daughter the chance to adapt while he or she studies and lives in another, often larger and unknown environment.
*Source: Institute for International Education’s Open Doors Website: http://opendoors.iienetwork.org/?p=150651
Many parents share that just when they get comfortable with their student being away at college, their student is approaching them about going abroad. It is this new adventure that often requires parents to yet again evaluate the role they seek to have in parenting their student through the choices and decisions associated with participating in a learning experience in another country. The most common concerns for parents revolve around health, safety and program costs, but the questions that you might consider asking your student extend well beyond these three areas.
Sue Atkins continues “In most colleges, the exploration of study abroad begins in the sophomore year and students tend to study abroad during the sophomore summer or during the junior year. Whether your student seeks to embark on a study abroad program in college or in high school, below are some of the common questions to explore with your son or daughter in order to be engaged, informed, and supportive throughout the process.”
Questions Sue Atkins recommends parents ask their student regarding an international experience:
- Ask your student the reasons that he or she is exploring an international experience and the outcomes your student hopes to achieve from studying abroad.
- What are the expected costs for the international experience and are there financial aid and scholarship opportunities through the school or through community organizations?
- What are the support services for your student during the experience and what happens during an emergency (health issue, natural disaster, political upheaval, etc.)?
- What are the roles for the study abroad program provider, and what are the responsibilities of the study abroad advisor at your student’s school or college, and the resident director at the overseas program?
- What are the policies of your student’s institution for awarding credits and grades from an overseas experience?
- Discuss your expectations around communication before, during, and after the study abroad experience.
- What are the required documents for an international experience (passport, visas, resident permits, medical, etc.)?
- What are the personal finances that your student is willing to invest toward the experience and how will he or she budget while abroad? (Student overspending is a common occurrence when abroad.)
- What has your student learned about courses, internships, and other academic requirements that need to be arranged in advance of his or her return from the study abroad experience?
- What important contact information will be needed to reach your student and key staff members during the time your student is abroad?
Many more questions can be explored and the resources below provide some excellent information as you guide your son or daughter.
Resources for Parents
The National Association of International Educator’s (NAFSA) Publication
What Parents Need to Know!
By Janet Hulstrand
http://www.nafsa.org/interactive/core/orders/product.aspx?catid=3&prodid=164
StudyAbroad.com Parent’s Guide
http://www.studyabroad.com/guides/parentsguide/
IIEPassport.org Parent’s Resource Center
http://www.iiepassport.org/pages/sitecontent/parent_center.aspx
Susan M. Atkins, International Education Consultant
NAFSA, Education Abroad Knowledge Community Team Member
Subcommittee Liaison for Information Management
Susan Atkins, M.Ed. in Student Development Administration, has worked in the field of International Education for over ten years in the capacity of Director of Study Abroad. She has presented sessions at regional and national conferences on the topic of advising millennial students and working with parents of study abroad students. Sue has traveled to 26 countries, touring educational programs and is currently working for an Italian study abroad program.
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Kay Kimball Gruder
