Parent Checklist

It is important that as a parent or guardian, you support your student in their decision to study abroad. It is vital that you have open communication, ask questions, and lend a helping hand.  At the same time, your student should to be encouraged to act independently when researching the logistics of going overseas. Let your student meet with the pertinent faculty and offices on campus, arrange banking procedures through their home bank, and discuss cellphone network coverage with their phone company independently. These are the sort of everyday situations that help develop their confidence in critical thinking and problem solving skills.

Your student needs to be confident enough to ask for help and advice when they are overseas. Allowing them to develop these skills before departure is helping them to get used to being out of their comfort zone. 
 

• Ask your student about their goals and wishes for their study abroad experience when they're still deciding
• Review their chosen program description and costs pages
• Research their destination country using reputable sources
• Maintain balance between helping your students prepare the logistics and letting them take responsibility for the process
• Have a conversation about health & safety, do's and don'ts
• Have a communication plan and discuss your student filling out a Study Abroad FERPA form, agree on a main and secondary mode of communicating, and the frequency of communication