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Mentor Advice

Question

Why is it important that students work together with their parents before studying abroad?

1 Replies from Mentors

  • mentor picture Amie
     
    Amie
    Senior Year Student
    University of California, Los Angeles
    It is likely that parents will become anxious when considering that their child will live abroad...
    It is likely that parents will become anxious when considering that their child will live abroad without them. It is also likely that they will help pay for your trip. It is important to help ease their minds regarding the constant worrying that will occur about the safety and health issues. Many students skype, email, and/or call on a regular basis. I did this weekly with my parents while I was away for three months. Students and parents should also keep each other updated of any problems or concerns, providing for a much more settling and regulated experience. For example, my study abroad trip had a brief interruption where students were being threatened to be kicked out of our apartments because the study abroad program with the school failed to pay the landlords. Letting parents know about the problem right away helped get the problem to the college, where we successfully found another program in a timely manner.