Professor Wolters discusses some ideas for persuading parents to let students study abroad?
Two of my 3 kids, now adults, studied abroad. One studied Russian at St. Petersburg State University (was required for her major), and the other studied microbiology at Cardiff University for a full year. At the time, she was pre-med and a study abroad was an important criteria for applying to med school. (She later went in a different direction, earning a BS in microbiology, a BS in cell biology and genetics, a BS in geology, an MS in geochemistry, and is now pursuing an MS in data analysis/data science while working full time).
As a parent who was globally naive, I did not understand the need for study abroad – it just seemed like a big expense to me, who hadn’t traveled internationally (mostly). Since I began putting this blog together, I now understand the importance of study abroad and regret not being more enthusiastic about their study abroad programs. I was naive and did not then understand, owing to my lack of international experience. I regret that when they were abroad, we never traveled to visit them – it would have been good for them but especially good for us to have had that experience.
Our middle child did travel to Switzerland and a few other countries, to visit his girlfriend (now wife) who was studying abroad in Europe. He has also since done international travel for work (he has a Ph.D. in materials science and works for a global science company) and has mentioned that at some point when the kids are older, he might have the opportunity to work abroad. Today I would say “go for it” – the experience would be incredibly valuable to everyone if all the details can work out.