Dear Parents of Study Abroad Participants,

With the semester drawing to a close, your student is now in the final stages of preparing for his or her study abroad experience. Your student will arrive home with a packet of materials provided by Overseas Programs and, in some cases, the program sponsor. Sometimes students may not have found time to read all of the information provided due to academic or other obligations. Please encourage your student to read all materials thoroughly and to discuss the information with you as many of your questions and concerns may be addressed by the information contained in the literature.

The U.S. State Department has launched a new website designed to help students prepare for their study abroad experience, and we encourage you to make use of this resource. Details on travel documents, absentee voting, registering at the nearest U.S. embassy once abroad, and even a downloadable wallet card for emergency contact information are available at the link on the right.

Your student may receive additional materials via mail or email so it is important to check email regularly for possible last minute program updates, reminders or notifications. By taking the time to read and review the material previously provided, your student will be more informed and prepared for the experience abroad which may keep some of the pre-departure anxieties at bay.

Please refer to the links on the right for the following :
  • A checklist of items relevant to this phase of the process
  • “Know Before You Go” intercultural handbook
  • A sample program agreement
  • U.S. State Department website for students abroad
At the end of the semester preceding your student's study abroad experience, we will send the following to your home address:
  • Printed copies of the most current checklist of items relevant to this phase of the process and the "Know Before You Go" intercultural handbook
  • A copy of your student's program agreement
  • Other program-specific materials, where applicable
  • Uncollected materials

If you or your student has questions after reviewing the general and program-specific information, please contact us. The Office of International and Area Studies will be open over the winter break with the exception of December 25 and January 1 and over the summer with the exception of July 4. We are happy to answer any questions you or your student may have during the final preparations for studying abroad.

Sincerely,

Jennifer White Reding
Associate Director, Overseas Programs