Studying abroad will almost certainly be a defining period in your son or daughter’s educational experience—a psychological journey that will transform him or her into a global thinker with international perspectives and put him or her a step ahead of the competition in the eyes of prospective employers. In spite of this, you—and your son or daughter—may have a wide range of feelings about the upcoming experience, from excitement at its potential to stress at the idea of being far apart.
By understanding each other’s feelings and supporting decisions before, during, and after the period of overseas study, you can help maximize this opportunity. Here is some advice on what to expect (we’ve been seeing study abroad transformations in action for more than 50 years).