Whole World Study: Suggestions for Parents on Uncommon Destinations

Parents are often encouraged to take an active role in supporting their son's or daughter's interest in studying abroad. The support and encouragement of a parent can very significantly influence how a student identifies a particular study abroad program, and how he or prepares for studying abroad in a nontraditional destination.

To help you participate constructively in your son's or daughter's exploration and preparation, we suggest that you consider the following:

• Values and Goals - Help your son or daughter identify and clarify his and her values and goals early in the process of identifying an appropriate program.
• Options - Understand what study abroad options the home institution makes available.
• Models - Become familiar with the various types of programs that exist, and find out what sorts of learning they are designed to facilitate or promote.
• Whole World Study - Find out how study abroad in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, or Latin America could be to your son's or daughter's advantage.
• Fit - Determine how well individual programs, services, and local environments fit your son's or daughter's academic needs, personal goals, linguistic preparation, expectations, and interests, and discuss how he or she will be able to balance personal habits with these goals.
• Features and Benefits - Investigate what is available in programs your son or daughter is considering, and consider if these features provide benefits or experiences that will help meet the goals he or she has established.
• Informed Choice - Consider how study abroad in a less-traditional destination might fulfill your son's or daughter's academic, personal, cultural, linguistic, and professional goals—check out some of the benefits he or she might find in whole world study.
• Advantages and Disadvantages - Weigh the likely advantages of study abroad in a particular program or destination against any perceived disadvantages – and bear in mind that common perceptions about disadvantages are often the product of negative, media-generated stereotypes.
• Approval Process - Learn what your son or daughter needs to do for the home institution to approve a program in a nontraditional site.
• Participation Requirements - Understand the participation requirements your son or daughter will be required to meet.
• Costs, Financial Assistance, and Scholarships - Learn about program fees and find what they cover; review anticipated personal expenses associated with participation; and look into the availability of financial assistance that might support his or her participation.
• Predeparture Preparation - Prepare for your son's or daughter's experience abroad by asking for and reviewing all program materials that may be available on campus.
• Risks - Understand that study abroad involves risks, regardless of where your son or daughter studies. Though some destinations may at first glance seem to present many types of risk, you need to gather information about perceived risks and evaluate them carefully. You can begin by consulting two U.S. government Web sites that provide information about local conditions and travel precautions, the Bureau of Consular Affairs of the State Department and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Program selection

When your son or daughter has selected a specific site, you can continue to participate in the experience by asking him or her about the following aspects of the selected program:

• Program Structure - The type of program, its location, the duration of the program, the number of students it enrolls, the support facilities it makes available to visiting students, and what sort of staff support is available.
• Academic Credits - How they are earned, courses that are available, and whether courses will transfer back to fulfill general education, major/minor, or graduation requirements.
• Living Arrangements - Will your son or daughter live in a homestay, in a university residence with host-country students, in an apartment with other U.S. students, or some other option?
• Orientation - Does the program offer a predeparture program on campus and an on-site orientation that will be provided upon arrival at the host institution abroad?
• Safety and Responsibility - What sort of security measures are in place? What special precautions does the program make? What sort of concerns do staff on site have about local conditions? Does the program have crisis management procedures in place?
• Health and Wellness Resources - What sorts of health precautions and immunizations does the program recommend? What is the quality of local medical care? What program services does the program provide, including medical referrals? Does the program require health and accident insurance that includes a medical evacuation provision?
  
• Cost - What is the total program fee? What does the fee cover, and how is it to be paid?
• Travel Arrangements - What are the program dates? Who is responsible for making travel arrangements?

Engaging your son or daughter in this process is one of the most meaningful and helpful ways you can be involved in his or her decision to study abroad. The Whole World Subcommittee also encourages you to consult the Recommended Resources of this guide for more information to help prepare you and your child for the life-changing experience of study abroad.