Parents and Families

Summer

• Student: Follow the UP Study Abroad Instagram to get updates and learn more (See student IG Stories takeovers saved on our profile!) @UPStudyAbroad. Start looking at program information on study abroad website.

September 

• Student: Applications are now open for the following year! Attend Study Abroad fair event, research program options.
• Family: Support your student as they get adjusted to campus, ask if they are interested in study abroad. Let them take the lead exploring their options and navigating the start of the semester.

October  

• Student: Meet with Study Abroad staff member or student assistant to discuss program interests. Meet with a Academic Advisor to discuss academics. Start application. Look into which study abroad scholarships you might be eligible for!
• Family: Start conversation with student about study abroad. Have your student share cost/finances/scholarship information with you. Your student should be the one to take the initiative, research program options, and look for answers to the questions family members may have.

November 

• Student: Complete application by the deadline (the exact date of the deadline can vary from year to year). Start researching and applying for study abroad scholarships, talk with a Financial Aid Office staff member if you have questions.
• Family: Check in with your student, see how they're doing. Are they applying for a study abroad program? Have they been researching cost & scholarships?

December  

• Student: Apply for a passport/renew passport, if needed. Celebrate completing finals! 
• Family: See how your student is doing with the passport application process (if applicable). Celebrate the completed semester! It is your student's responsibility to keep you informed about their interest in study abroad, and to provide you with the relevant details - if you have questions about the study abroad program they applied for, your student should be the one to find the answers. If you are together over winter break, this is a great time for them to share with you what they have learned and answer your questions.

• Student: Will receive acceptance information, pre-departure handbook, and budgeting template. Pay $250 confirmation deposit to UP Student Account. Share all relevant details with family. See action items to complete in the study abroad portal. 
• Family: Have student share financial information they have received with you. Support if needed paying the $250 confirmation deposit.

Some programs, such as IES Abroad and GEO Quéretaro might differ a little when it comes to the confirmation deposit. If students are confused, they should reach out to the Study Abroad Office directly.

Early semester

• Student: Attend pre-departure meetings and complete tasks in study abroad portal. Learn about visa process (if applicable). Do some budgeting/finances planning if you haven't already (meet with Financial Aid Office staff and use budget template provided by Study Abroad Office)
• Family: Check in with student, ask them any questions you have. Ask your student about their study abroad budgeting planning, and have them share cost/scholarship details with you. Have them let you if they need to apply for a visa for their host country or not, and if that process requires travel within the U.S. to apply at a Consulate or visa processing center.

Mid-Semester

• Student: Prepare visa application paperwork and apply for visa (if applicable, each host country is different, apply roughly 2-3+ months before departure – fall students would apply over summer) Receive information about booking flights and arrival, research flight options and book flight ONLY once having confirmed exact program dates and any arrival information. Student needs to take the lead researching/planning to book a flight.
• Family: talk with student about flights, let them be the one to research flight options and share with you which flight itineraries they have found (do not just do this for them; it is a good learning opportunity for your student to research flights and know how to book plane tickets, even if you are the one planning to pay for the flight). Some visa processes might need financial information from you, so see how your student is doing preparing paperwork for their visa application (if necessary, varies based on host country) and have them let you know if they need anything from you. 

Later in the Semester

• Student: Receive more information about housing, arrival, etc. Make a plan with family about communication abroad.
• Family: Have student share arrival/housing information. Have a conversation about communication while your student is abroad – how often do you plan to check in? What tools do you want to use? (WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Skype, etc. For iPhone users, iMessage and FaceTime work just the same)

It is normal for students to experience lots of different emotions and highs and lows while abroad. This is to be expected and is part of how they will learn and grow. Here are some possibilities of what your student might experience and how you can best support them. 

• Shortly after arrival - Students could experience excitement, overwhelm, anxiety, and exhaustion particularly in their first weeks abroad. 
• It can be common for students to find their first weeks abroad to be difficult, adjusting to a new schedule, navigating a new environment, etc. Encourage your student to rest, have plenty of water, and give themselves some time to get to know the city before deciding to go out late. Let them figure things out and learn how to do new things.
• Try to find a balance between keeping in touch with your student, but also allowing them space to get to know their host community. (For example, maybe scheduling a recurring time to catch up just once a week or so).
• When communicating with your student -Remember to listen fully and ask open-ended questions. 
• When moments are difficult, encourage your student to think about this time as an opportunity for learning, discovery and growth.
• Listen to your student’s concerns. Let them know you have confidence in them, and you know they are capable of navigating this new environment and figuring things out. Validate their feelings – it is normal and okay to feel highs and lows while abroad.  

Let your student know you are proud of them for challenging themself to live in a different cultural setting! Celebrate all that they learned, and how much they have grown through this experience. Your student will most likely have many, many stories from their time away. Make space to listen and hear what they have to say. When your student is transitioning back home, and back to campus at UP, they may find that others may not want to actually hear about their time abroad except for “Yeah, it was great!”. Students will need time to process all of the experiences they had abroad, and time to understand how they have grown, changed, and matured. 

In an increasingly global world, knowledge and experience navigating international interactions are becoming more and more essential to the well-rounded individuals that UP sees in its graduates. We invite all students to take on the challenge of living abroad, to expand their worldview and broaden their understanding of the world. If your student is considering studying abroad, he or she has already made an important step on that journey, and your support and guidance will be invaluable.

Finding the Right Balance

When it comes to communication, it is important to find the right balance for your family. The goal is for your child to immerse themselves completely in their host country. Your communications should aid in that goal, not distract from it. Our panel of parents recommend scheduling a time every week or so for a call and trying to limit your communication to that. This gives your student and you something to look forward to while also encouraging them to focus on their experience in their new home, fostering independence and confidence!

Expectations

It is also important to keep your expectations reasonable. If your child is making the most of their time abroad, they may sometimes have to reschedule a phone call, or they may seem tired or distracted when you talk. Similarly, not all days will be good days for your child. Be patient. Culture shock can make them irritable, home-sick, or uncomfortable. We encourage you to listen to and validate how they’re feeling, while also kindly reminding them (and yourself!) that studying abroad is a growing experience, and growing pains are real! Studying abroad can be like a bubble to your student - reminding them to keep perspective and gratitude is invaluable.

“We only spoke with our kids every week or so.  The time difference requires some planning…It may not have been quite enough for me, but I got the feeling it was enough for them.  It is hard for them to relay their experience in a little summary, especially when they are tired and busy… Don’t be offended if they aren’t showing a lot of enthusiasm for the news back home.  They are taking in and processing a lot.  They will have room again for what’s going on in your family, your neighborhood/community, and the USA when they return.” – Karen Kessi, Salzburg Mom

If you are planning on visiting your child abroad, our parent panel encourages you to let your child make some reservations for your family trip...dinner, lodging, a family activity…It shows that you are confident in them and recognize their newfound “expertise” of their host city.  

“Kids may say they want to be independent and can handle being away that long, but she was beyond thrilled that we were there.” – Christie LeBar, Salzburg mom

It is important that the application and pre-departure process is driven by the student. Successfully and independently navigating the pre-departure process is an indicator of success on their study abroad experience. Be available to your child for words of advice or to mail an important document, but resist the urge to do things for them.

Note: Make sure you have an up-to-date passport! In the rare case of an emergency, you would be able to travel quickly to your child’s host country.

“Encourage your student to travel!  Encourage them to go for depth rather than breadth, if that makes any sense.  This won’t be the last time they will travel abroad!” – Karen Kessi, Salzburg Mom

“[We] discussed with her what she might want to do at the end of the semester; should she stay & travel for a while or does she want to return home right away? [We sent] letters or cards from time to time as they LOVE getting mail!” – Christie LeBar, Salzburg Engineer mom

“Send what needs sending – but beware!  It is very expensive to send things over there!!” – Karen Kessi, Salzburg Mom

“We encouraged Bridget to take day trips and weekend trips to explore Europe and she did quite a bit. We gave basic advice about safety, but allowed her to discover things and make plans on her own.” – Chris Hulburt, Rome dad

“Alex had a US Bank credit card that charged no international exchange fees and a favorable exchange rate and also carried a no fee debit card that allowed him access to cash. I never worried about him not having access to money.” – Terri, Japan mom

Reverse Culture shock is a way of describing the difficulties that many students have in readjusting to their homes, resuming relationships with friends and family, and getting back into the routine of school and other activities upon return from an education abroad experience.

While studying abroad can be a nerve-racking process, remember that your child will be better for it.

We firmly believe that everyone should have the opportunity to study abroad, and UP's Office of Financial Aid has compiled an excellent group of resources for affording the many programs we offer. Both institutional and federal aid (including scholarships, loans, and possibly work-study) apply to most UP programs, and may be available for outside programs. Keep in mind that the procedures and qualifications for aid may differ based on whether a student is participating in a UP program or an outside program like IES. 

Discuss with your student how they will manage their money while abroad. Will they use a credit or ATM card from their bank in the USA, or open a foreign bank account? Keep in mind the fees and conversion costs that may accompany either option. It is important to remember that you as a parent or family member will not be there to solve every challenge. Encourage independence and self-reliance in your student, personally and financially, throughout their preparation for studying abroad. Invite them to consider the kind of budget they will need when abroad, and what kind of expenses they will have.

"I was super cheap in Salzburg, but I wasn't always perfect. Make sure you allow yourself to enjoy what you're doing. Even though I had to say "no" all the time to keep within my budget, I rarely missed out on a cool chance to spend time with my friends. " - Dagan Kay, Class of 2019, BA Philosophy & E-Scholar, Salzburg Year 2016-2017

All students participating in a Study Abroad program will be covered by an international insurance plan, which is included in the program fee and covers medical emergencies and emergency evacuation in addition to most everyday medical costs. Regardless of whether or not a student is covered by their parents' insurance, this institutional insurance coverage is required for all students. The insurance provider will vary depending on the program but the coverage remains approximately the same regardless of provider.

Maintaining healthy practices is important for students, as they are face new cuisine, cultural practices, sleep schedules and activities. Students should focus on eating a healthy and balanced diet, getting plenty of sleep and exercise, and monitoring their mental wellbeing. The Health and Counseling Center is also a resource for students to utilize while abroad. UP students who may be struggling with the adjustment process or other mental health concerns while abroad can access telephone counseling services (outside of 8:30 to 4:30 PST,M-F) by calling 503-943-7134 and selecting Option 3.

Receiving medical treatment for illness or injury can look very different outside the US, and varies from country to country. Students will receive information at their pre-departure meetings about the details of health care in their specific country, as well as challenges they may face while abroad. In addition to the advising and information given out at these meetings, students and their families may find these additional resources helpful in researching vaccine requirements, medical practices, and other health information.

In addition to monitoring and maintaining their health, students and their families should familiarize themselves with any threats to security abroad and ways for the student to protect him- or herself against them. As mentioned above, students should follow the following guidelines to stay secure abroad:

• Be familiar with local laws and regulations, and obey them at all times.
• Be aware of any travel advisories posted by the U.S. Department of State. Conditions in many countries can change quickly, so check in before traveling and while abroad.  
• Keep an eye on your belongings at all times, avoid crowded areas when possible, and do not travel with excessive amounts of cash or valuables.
• Know the emergency phone numbers for any country or region you are living or traveling in.
• Dress appropriately and to blend in, rather than wearing excessively expensive or revealing garments that could attract unwanted attention.

• Country Specific Information
• US Dept. of State: Students Abroad
• US Embassy Locations
• CDC Travel Notices
• CDC Destination Search
• Travel Health & Safety Guidelines
• Women Abroad

If you are abroad and in need of emergency assistance, please call:

ASSIST AMERICA (part of CISI insurance coverage for all UP students): +1.609.986.1234

UP Campus Safety: +1.503.943.4444