Information for Parents

In addition to the information and resources below, we encourage you to visit our FAQs page which will answer many of the questions that you and your student may have. There will be a lot of information shared with your student at orientations, please ask your student to share this information with you.

How Parents Can Help Before Departure

1. Travel Documents:

Passports

• Since your child’s passport may be at home with you, you can help by checking the expiration date, as some countries require that visitors have a passport that expires at least 6 months after they leave the country.
• If your child will be applying for a passport for the first time, his or her birth certificate or official abstract of the birth certificate will be required.
• Permanent residents will need their US Resident Alien Card up to date and will need a valid passport from their country of citizenship.
• You should also have a valid passport in case of an emergency.

Student Visas

• A student visa is required for a stay of over 90 days in most countries. While USC staff, program sponsor staff, or host university staff may provide tips or advice, the student is ultimately responsible for obtaining their own visa. Student visas are issued by the host country government through its embassy and/or consulates in the U.S. Your child will need to know where to apply, what applications materials are required, and when to apply.
• It is very important to consider the timeline for applying for a visa. For some countries, students must submit their visa application months before going abroad. In the meantime, the student’s passport may be held at the consulate until soon before studying abroad. Keep in mind that this could interfere with your child or family’s vacation travel plans.
• Keep in mind that non-US Citizens may have to follow different procedures in order to obtain a visa.  Research the necessary steps as early as possible.

2. Health:

Before departure your child should have a general physical and any immunizations that are necessary. Any pending dental work should be done before going abroad. Make sure they pack a complete medical record and any needed prescription medications. Continue carrying your child as a dependent on your health insurance policy, even if they will have other coverage while studying abroad. Be aware that in many countries the cost of medical services must be paid in advance by the patient (and then reimbursed by insurance).

Additional resources:

• Health and Safety Abroad Guide
• Mental Health Abroad Checklist

3. Finances:

Access to funds

• Decide with your child how to access money for both everyday financial needs and also in case of an emergency. Your child should ask their bank how (or if) their ATM card will function abroad and what extra fees there might be. A personal credit card with cash advances or traveler’s checks could also make sense. Your child should contact the credit card provider to inform them of the dates and location of their overseas study program in order to avoid fraud alerts and holds being placed on the credit card account.
• For students receiving financial aid and/or scholarships, keep in mind that they are usually disbursed shortly before the USC semester begins. If your child’s study abroad program begins prior to the USC semester, they may need some money in advance.

Budgeting

• If your student does not have much experience making and sticking to a budget, the pre-departure period is a good time to discuss wise consumer behavior and set some guidelines as to how much extra spending money will be available.

Additional resources:

• Finances – Cost, Aid, Scholarships
• Scholarship List

4. Offer Support: Let your child take responsibility before and during the semester or year abroad, but make sure they know you are also there if they need someone to talk to or need any kind of support. Discuss any travel plans independent of the program so you have a clear idea of the duration and cost of your child’s experience.

Additional resources:

• Reasons to Study Abroad

While Your Student Is Abroad

1. Don’t Get Too Involved:

Adjustment

Adjusting to a new environment isn’t easy for anyone. Your child may likely share with you tales of frustration and homesickness, and you will be tempted to solve their problem, even it means flying to another country. Give your child support and understanding during their time of difficulty but avoid getting too involved.  Encourage your student to first make use of the student support services that are available at the program site. Programs will have either a resident director or an international students’ office. Part of the study abroad experience is learning how to overcome difficulties and moving past them. Your child will be much happier and confident knowing they were able to overcome difficulties independently.

Communication

Be prepared to have less frequent communication with your child, and remember that every moment they are connected to you (or friends in the U.S.) via e-mail, text message, phone, etc. is time that they are not making and interacting with new friends in the host country. Less frequent communication does not mean less quality communication.

2. Visiting:

Remember that study abroad students are not on vacation. Attending class with your child, or taking him/her out of class to sightsee, will interrupt the educational process and immersion experience. If you want to visit, it’s best to do so when the program has finished or during a semester break so you can travel together. Remember to be sensitive to local customs and cultural norms in the host country and the home-stay or dorm.

When Your Child Returns

1. Be Prepared For Transformation:

After living abroad for an extended period of time it is hard not to feel changed by the experience. This can take on many forms, from new ways of dressing to cravings for different kinds of foods to a new found sense of independence, and even the desire to return abroad. It is important to be supportive of your child and be open to their transformation.

2. Don’t Take It Personally:

Some students may experience some degree of reverse culture shock, and need some time to fully readjust to living at home again. They may even experience a period of depression and longing to return abroad. Don’t take this personally, it is a natural part of the experience, and once again your support and understanding during this time will be very helpful. Most study abroad participants report years later that the time they spent overseas was the best part of their college years-and that it changed them for life.

Student Privacy Policies and Study Abroad

Federal Education Rights of Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA) rules that apply on campus also apply when your child is abroad, since they will be an enrolled USC student. There is a broad range of student information that the university cannot share with parents. If you contact the University about certain matters, we may be unable to respond to you directly.