How To Convince Your Parents To Let You Study Abroad
As someone who has advised 100s of study abroad students (and is also a recovering serial study abroader myself), I can tell you that there is one subject that puts fear into kids like no other: Talking To Parents About Study Abroad.
In some ways, you would assume it would be simple, especially for college/university students, who are practically adults, who just don’t yet have many or any financial responsibilities. Like, what’s the big deal right?
The reality is that no child, particularly those under 21, is an island. While independence is admirable virtue (and my favorite way to navigate life), there’s less room for it when you’re younger because you need so much support, especially financially.
In defense of students, for the majority, I think it is LESS about simply asking parents for financial help to study abroad and MORE about the overall conversation that may ensue when you mention spending time overseas in general, or at minimum a combination of both.
So HOW do you approach this topic with your parents?
It begins by seeing the issue from their perspective. As highlighted in a previous post, there are many reasons (rightfully so) that parents and family members object to studying abroad. These may include:
Safety Concerns
Financial Concerns
Not Understanding the Purpose of Your Study Abroad Dreams
As your study abroad advisor and someone who is in your corner, I want you to find the proper way to have a productive conversation with your parents about this journey you’d like to take.
Ready to get a ‘YES’ from your parents to help you study abroad? Click the video below to Watch Day 8 of my ‘Learn How to Study Abroad in 30 Days Series’:
What is stressing you out the most about talking to your parents about studying abroad? Have you already started having conversations but keep hitting roadblocks? If so, where are their main concerns? LEAVE A COMMENT!
Until next time,
– K
Known as The Study Abroad Specialist, Kimber Grayson is a serial-study abroader turned International Education coach and expert. Since 2014, she has helped 100+ students navigate their semester away journey from the coastal areas of Spain to China and every place in between. In 2018, she launched The LiveStudyLearn™ Abroad Association, a one-of-a-kind online membership platform for study abroad students worldwide.
She holds two Master's degrees from two well-respected London-based universities and has experience working in the US, UK & and Italy.
In her spare time (what's that again?), she enjoys leisure travel city breaks, any snow-based activity, skeet shooting, and attempting to learn new languages.
kimber
Known as The Study Abroad Specialist, Kimber Grayson is a serial-study abroader turned International Education coach and expert. Since 2014, she has helped 100+ students navigate their semester away journey from the coastal areas of Spain to China and every place in between. In 2018, she launched The LiveStudyLearn™ Abroad Association, a one-of-a-kind online membership platform for study abroad students worldwide. She holds two Master's degrees from two well-respected London-based universities and has experience working in the US, UK & and Italy. In her spare time (what's that again?), she enjoys leisure travel city breaks, any snow-based activity, skeet shooting, and attempting to learn new languages.
