Top 5 Things to Consider for Studying Abroad

Before your student boards a plane to study abroad in another country, there is a lot of planning and considerations to be made. Check out the top 5 things to consider as you and your student discuss taking this big step:

Find out the Details

Do research before committing to a country and a study abroad program to make sure that your student’s credits will transfer. Also be aware of the costs involved – from paying for the course to course materials and housing. Know what the housing will be like while your student is abroad, how she’ll get around, how many other students will be in the program, and any excursions she’ll take.

Check out this advice from experts on studying abroad at usnews.com*.

Get the Documents

Make sure your student works closely with the study abroad program director, so she knows exactly what she needs. Depending on where your student goes, there are four main documents she might need:

• Passport: required for travel to any country, including Mexico and Canada.
• Visa: may be required to enter and leave a foreign country.
• International Certificate of Vaccinations: Especially when traveling to developing countries, your student will need certain immunizations. Check with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for more information.
• International Student Identity Card (ISIC): while not usually required, it might help to obtain discounts on travel fees.

Expect Culture Shock

Your student will be immersed in a new culture: new food, traditions, possibly language, people and more. While that’s probably one of the main reasons she’s studying abroad, she might not expect the other side of culture shock: homesickness.

Talk to her about appreciating the newness of her surroundings while also expecting to miss the familiarity of home. By understanding that some days she might just want to watch TV in her language and eat a sandwich from her favorite local restaurant, she’ll be able to cope with the homesickness when it comes.

Balance Studying with Experiencing

Living in a foreign country for a few weeks, a semester or a year presents a lot of amazing opportunities. Holing up in a library to study may not seem like one of them. Talk to your student about her priorities while she’s over there.

Are the classes she’s taking pass/fail, or will she receive a letter grade? How can she prepare beforehand, so that studying won’t be so daunting? How will she balance socializing and exploring her new city with learning her material and getting a lot out of her classes as well?

Budget for Travel

Make sure your student has extra money and time to travel before or after the study abroad experience. Help her plan to see the sights and explore with other people she trusts. Talk to friends, family and the study abroad director about trustworthy places to stay and safety tips for exploring that area of the world.

* What Should Students Know About Studying Abroad? by UNIGO, US News & World Report; 9/28/2011