For Parents
Congratulations and welcome to the world of opportunities at the 国产AV! Education Abroad can raise many questions for family members of interested students and the Office of International Affairs is more than happy to answer these questions. This page is designed to assist you as you try to navigate this exciting opportunity for your student. We understand you want to help your student have a successful education abroad experience. However, allowing your student independence navigating this opportunity will be beneficial for them once they are overseas. Please feel free to contact the Education Abroad advisor at educationabroad@una.edu
What is the benefit? In today’s global and competitive market, students must do everything they can to make themselves stand out. Education abroad is a resume booster, it shows the student has initiative, is willing to take risks, and also step into the unknown. Education abroad creates competent global citizens who appreciate the world we inhabit and how our respect of others views informs our own views and the world we create. Studying abroad requires flexibility and the capability to think on your feet. Individuals who have studied abroad and showcase this on their resume often find themselves talking about it in their job interview. You’ll know what we mean when your student returns and you wonder who he/she is. Your student will have gained great self-confidence, knowledge, and independence. Perhaps even lead to a new life outlook and career goal.
You know some benefits, but what does it really mean? You and your student can actually access this free resource provided by World at Hand, an innovative partner from Colorado, providing a better idea about what education abroad is.
Students will sign up for a free account and review topics key to grasping the concept of studying abroad. Then there are some quizzes to help them narrow down the right fit for them and ideas for getting started on their future journey abroad!
If this is new to you as a parent, go ahead and investigate it with your student as an activity together! They often want your guidance and opinion more than they may want to admit!
Here is the link to sign up:
Website:
- Research, research, research! Be sure to look at all the options available to you for cellular plans. Purchasing an international plan, using What's App, or E-sims are just some example to make international communication possible!
- Daily communication is unrealistic. Remember this is your student’s chance to gain some independence. They can’t do that if they’re checking in every day. Make a plan or set some expectations together on what they realistically can do.
- Students on longer programs consistently recommend Skype, Google, WeChat, WhatsApp, iMessage, and Facebook messenger as easy communication tools.
- Your student may call at some point during the program and be very unhappy or even depressed. This is usually associated with Culture Shock. It is difficult to enter another culture and grow accustomed to everything that is so new and different. Even if your student initially called with extreme excitement, this call could come a week or a month later. We recommend you not to encourage your student to come home or ‘feed’ their depression. Encourage them to continue to remain involved, seek out American food and other comforts that may remind them of home. packing things that remind them of home or give some comfort can help too.
- In many cases the problem they call you about solves itself within 24 hours. Resist your initial urge to fly over and save the day. Don’t forget to ask them to call you back within the next 24 hours. Usually by that time they are feeling better and problems are solved – but they often forget to call and tell you that part.
- Encourage your student to seek out the people necessary to help resolve the problem and let your student take the lead in doing so. Remind your student who can help with issues that have popped up so they can solve them on their own.
- Encourage your student to ask about the emergency plans for the program they are attending.
- Ask your student for a copy of all emergency numbers for the program and keep them handy in case of emergency back home. Encourage students to also save them in their phones.
- At least one parent/guardian should have a valid passport in case an emergency occurs and you need to get to your student abroad.
- Encourage your student to leave a copy of the following at home:
- Passport
- All ATM, debit, and credit cards, front and back
- Insurance cards (both primary and travel-specific), front and back, with plan information including contact details for the provider
- It is normal for family members to be concerned for the safety of their students, particularly in light of recent world events. Here are some more articles and resources to review. Additiaonlly, the U.S. Department of State has a resource that allows parents and students to sign up for travel and safety updates in the destination country.
If program cost is a concern for your family, you are not alone. The majority of education abroad participants seek out some type of aid to make their dream a reality.
- All students interested in education abroad should make the Student Financial Aid Office one of their first stops. Even if your student has not been eligible for federal aid (grants and loans) before, education abroad is an additional educational expense that in some cases may make them eligible for aid.
- Encourage your student to apply for the UNA Education Abroad Scholarship and the QEP Grant, and other independent education abroad scholarships available to them. See our Funding page for more information.
- Remember to compare what each program is providing for the cost. One program may appear much cheaper than another because it is not providing roundtrip airfare and the other is.
- Make a budget with your student based on aid or other saving methods.