Why should your son or daughter study abroad?

You may be asking yourself this question. After all, study abroad was never as popular a choice nor as accessible an opportunity as it is now. Still, it's a complicated decision for students and their parents, involving a myriad of considerations including (among many others) finances, academic and career plans, and the timing of a semester abroad. Though we try to make it as affordable as we can, we understand that going on a global education program represents an enormous investment in time and effort for the family.

One of the Center for Global Education's (CGE) prime missions is to help students make the most of the opportunities afforded by study abroad. We want them to go abroad fully aware of the enormous opportunity they have, and the potential this experience has for their personal and professional growth. We work to send them abroad with all the necessary tools to reap these benefits.

Our short answer to the question above is that we believe that students need to be engaged with the world. This is reflected in our Mission Statement:

The mission of the Center for Global Education is to provide students with academically challenging study abroad experiences that foster an in-depth understanding of another culture, with the aim of encouraging them to embrace the concept of global citizenship. Being a responsible, effective citizen of the world involves assuming an active role in one's own community and in the larger world; it requires an understanding of the relationship between actions made locally and globally and a commitment to the betterment of people's lives everywhere. Through our study abroad programs, the Center for Global Education strives to provide students with a transformative learning experience that inspires them to live lives of consequence.

When we talk to students, we present three specific reasons why all students should think about global education:

1. A global education program can be the single most transformative experience of their college education. Your son or daughter will develop an ever greater sense of independence, self-reliance and a deeper understanding of themselves, their country, and the rest of the world. Their professors tell us that students who return from abroad tend to have sharpened their academic goals and have a more developed sense of their career goals. Students' GPAs also tend to improve after a study abroad experience.
2. Living abroad as a student, and traveling abroad as a tourist, are two qualitatively different things. The experience of living immersed in a different culture may never come again. Students who have studied abroad, with little variation, refer to their experiences as being the best of their lives...so all students should try to seize this chance while they are able.
3. Nation-wide, about 2% of U.S. college students participate in study abroad programs. Having this experience on their resume will set them apart from 98% of their peers (and their competition) in the global marketplace. One of the realities of "globalization" is that employees increasingly work in cross-cultural environments where a knowledge of the rest of the world - and specifically how people of different cultures communicate - is more necessary than ever. Employers and professional and graduate schools have recognized this reality and have started emphasizing a set of skills called "global competency": the ability to operate successfully across cultures.

Parents, as well as students, should understand the process of finding out about, applying for, and participating in a global education program. This section breaks this process down into four parts: recruitment and application, before students go, while they are away, and when they return.

Recruitment and application process

In the first week of each semester, the Center for Global Education begins to publicize its programs to students. Students will need to apply one year in advance of the semester they wish to go abroad. Please note that all programs do not necessarily run every semester. We send emails to all First Years, Sophomores and Juniors inviting them to the General Information Session (see below). We put up posters around campus, post an announcement on the HWS Daily Update web page, and send out emails to students who have previously expressed interest in a global education program. We also table in Scandling (the student center) so students can pick up program information and ask any questions they may have "face to face."

The General Information Session is usually held in the third or fourth week of each semester. At this meeting, students learn about the application process and the programs we are recruiting for. After this portion of the meeting, faculty directors and other program representatives meet with small groups interested in particular programs. Students receive a copy of the CGE Programs Passport, application forms and informational brochures about each of the available programs.

The next step after attending the General Info Session is for students to sign up in our office for a “Which Program for Me?” meeting. In this session students meet with a member of CGE staff in groups of 10 or less who helps them identify programs that would be a good fit for them. Students must apply for their programs before the application deadline, which falls in October for the Fall and March for the Spring. More information about the application process can be found in the CGE Programs Passport. Applications received after the published deadline will only be considered on a space-available basis.

Decisions are announced within 4 weeks of the application deadline. The office strives to have decisions done in time for registration for the following semester so that students can sign up for pre-req courses if required. Please see the CGE Programs Passport for more details outlining the criteria on which admission decisions are based. Students will either be accepted, waitlisted or denied for a program. Students who are accepted to a program must submit a non-refundable deposit to the Business Office to secure their place in the program. (If students do not confirm their participation by the date specified in their acceptance letter and there is a wait list, the student will forfeit his or her place.) If a student is waitlisted, there is a reasonable possibility that s/he will receive an offer in time to participate in a particular program, but, of course, this cannot be guaranteed.

Preparation

The time between acceptance into a program and actually boarding the plane is filled with physical, intellectual, emotional and financial preparation. The Center for Global Education will conduct a mandatory Program Logistics Meeting for each individual program, which is an orientation to give students an introduction to the program and the country, to go over important health and safety information and to let them know what they can expect while abroad. Paperwork for the institution abroad and/or visa* paperwork will be handed out at this meeting and students will be given a comprehensive To Do list, letting them know what they need to do before going abroad and letting them know about upcoming meetings and workshops. Students will also learn about some of the challenges they will face that are particular to the culture of the country they are visiting.  *Some programs with particularly complicated visa processes will have a separate meeting dedicated to visas.

Students will also attend a Goal-Setting Workshops that will help them figure out what they would like to accomplish while abroad. At this workshop they will also be able to speak to students who have been on their program in a previous semester. It is very important that students attend all of these mandatory meetings.

We also offer optional workshops such as a travel writing workshop and a travel photography workshop. Students may attend one of each if they would like to.

Before their departure, students and parents will receive a handbook covering these and other topics in more detail. The handbooks are program-specific and provide detailed information for the country they are visiting such as finances, flights, housing arrangements, courses, packing, etc. Copies of previous handbooks are available to download on our webpage. Handbooks for your student's program will be available towards the end of the semester before they depart, when we have all the details finalized. If you student has provided us with your email address, we will also email a copy of the handbook to you. We encourage all parents to read the handbook, as it explains many aspects of the experience your student will have abroad. For our program in India we don't prepare our own handbook but refer students directly to the detailed handbook provided by the Consortium that administrates the program.

Students have all received paperwork to fill out for their program (behavior agreement, liability waiver, flight form and medical form), including a comprehensive to-do list with due dates. Students on most programs are also given applications required by the institutions abroad. They are also told to apply for a passport if they do not have a valid one. We arrange group flight for a few programs but most students will need to find their own flights. Though the particulars vary from program to program, in general each student will need to do the following things:

• Apply for their passport - students should do this as early as possible!
• Students may want to purchase an International Student Identity Card (ISIC) card, which offers student discounts at various local spots as well as supplemental insurance. This is optional but the insurance coverage that comes with the card includes replacement of passport, emergency evacuation, repatriation benefits, etc. If a student's medical insurance coverage does not include emergency evacuation and repatriation (the policy purchased through HWS DOES include this coverage), this card is an inexpensive way to get this very important coverage. The card can be purchased online at ISIC's Web site.
  
• Register for classes for the semester they will be abroad during normal HWS registration.
  
• Work with Residential Education to set up HWS housing for the semester they return to campus.
  
• Book their flight. On some programs we arrange a group flight and we will let students know if this is the case. However, even in the case of group flights, students or parents must contact the HWS travel agent themselves to make the flight reservation and purchase the ticket.
  
• Complete and return the following documents by the due dates given to them:
• Signed Behavior Standards Agreement
• Completed Medical Report Form
• Completed Waiver of Liability form with both the student’s and both parents' notarized signatures.
• Completed Confirmation of Flight Arrangements form
• 2 Copies of the student's passport
• Visa application for countries where we apply for the visa on the student's behalf (We will let these students know if they need to fill out a visa application)
• Internal and/or housing application for institution abroad (if applicable)
  
• Consider the immunizations recommended for each program and decide if it makes sense for your student to have these. Consult the CDC website for more info. Your home doctor may be able to administer these or you may need to consult a local travel medicine clinic. You can also contact one of the Passport Health offices in Canandaigua, Rochester or Syracuse who provide travel immunizations. Their contact number is: (585) 275-8884.
  
• Apply for a visa or residence permit (per instructions from us or from the partner institution abroad) where one is required.
  
• Students abroad in the spring will be off campus when Financial Aid forms are due. All offers of financial aid are for one year only. In order to renew the offer, all required forms must be in the Office of Financial Aid by April 15 - without exception. You or your student must submit all financial aid paperwork by the deadline in order to get full consideration. Please speak to your son or daughter about this before they leave if they intend to apply for financial aid. You can consult the Financial Aid Office's Web site for forms and further information. When you get to this page, click on Renewal Application Process.
  
• Check with their bank in regard to transaction fees for using their ATM card and credit card while abroad. They should also let their bank and credit card provider know they will be abroad so that they do not "freeze" the card when they see transactions outside the U.S. They may want to look for a credit card that has “no foreign transaction fees.”
  
• Set a spending budget. It's easy for students to overspend if they aren't clear what their budget will be. To help your student set a budget, go to our website. Click on your student's program and scroll down to the section entitled "Going Abroad with the CGE". This gives specific information about housing, meal costs and spending money recommendations. Be aware that the fluctuating rate of the dollar may mean that costs have increased by the time your student arrives at the abroad site.
  
• Check the international luggage size/weight restrictions with your airline. We strongly urge students to be sure that their bags are under these limits. Students should try to carry their bags at least one block before going to the airport!
  
• If students haven't had a medical exam in the past 12 months, they must have one. Their home doctor needs to fill out the last page of the Medical Form indicating that he/she knows about the planned program/itinerary and feels this is appropriate for your son or daughter. If students have had a recent physical, the doctor may be willing to sign the form based on that visit. If any new medical developments arise after the student has completed your Medical Report form, they must contact us to update their information. We also recommend that students have a dental exam if they have not had one within the last 12 months.
  
• Obtain a four-month supply of any prescription drugs your son or daughter requires that will cover them for the entire program. Sending medication through the mail is not recommended due to customs regulations and delays, and in some cases, is prohibited. If the pharmacy will not dispense more than a 30 or 60 day supply, you should ask their doctor to write a note requesting the extra amount due to the fact that your son or daughter will be abroad and will be unable to obtain the medication there. We can also write a note explaining that the student will be abroad and needs a larger supply of medication. Students must transport the drugs ONLY in the labeled bottles in which they were dispensed. With certain medications (including psychotropic drugs such as Ritalin or Prozac) students should bring a letter from their physician on letterhead stating that they are required to take this medication and stating the dose they have been prescribed. They should carry this letter with them in case they are required to show it. If you will be visiting them and bringing them extra medication, you should carry a letter with you from their doctor explaining why this drug is required, what the dosage is and mentioning that you will be transporting it because they were unable to get a prescription for their entire time away. Students should consider bringing an extra pair of glasses and their eyeglass prescription. Hearing impaired students should bring an ample supply of hearing aid batteries and accessories.
  
• Check the website or blackboard website established by their Faculty Director if they have one.
  
• Consider purchasing a money belt or pouch for your student to carry passport, ATM/credit cards, and cash. Pick-pocketing is a problem in virtually every airport and tourist center in the world.
  
• Make copies of passport/visa/ISIC card. Have your student leave copies of all of these with you in case they lose their passports or ISIC card and place other copies in different parts of their luggage.
  
• Contact your insurance company to find out the extent of your health insurance while abroad as well as the coverage provided by your homeowner's policies for personal possessions. Students may purchase an optional year-long health policy through HWS provided by Gallagher Student Health (only covers costs abroad at 70%) or specific policies designed for study abroad that cover 100% of costs (we give students recommendations on their To Do list of these companies) if your health policy does not cover them while they are abroad. They must keep all receipts for medical treatment and submit them upon their return (see section below on medical coverage).

Safety

Safety is an issue at the forefront of many parents' minds when they think of their student studying abroad. The Center for Global Education has developed a comprehensive safety and emergency response plan and monitors State Department safety bulletins daily. In addition, all HWS programs have local staff, or our own Faculty Directors, on site with the students. In a true emergency, the CGE and HWS reserve the right to cancel or bring back a program in progress. In the unlikely event this should happen, HWS will make all reasonable accommodations to ensure that students will receive academic credit.

Reverse culture shock

Students often return to the U.S., their home campus and their families excited to be back and bursting with stories, photos and experiences to talk about. But they may also quickly run into difficulties readjusting to their daily routines, to U.S. culture and even possibly to their families. Though they may not be aware of it, a lot of this "reverse culture shock" has to do with the fact that, while away, they have matured and changed a great deal. Not only do students abroad develop a greater sense of self-reliance, independence and more refined educational, career or life goals, they also return with new ideas and perspectives. They may have developed new values or priorities while abroad, and are not yet sure how to integrate these new modes into their "old lives". The "reentry" process has its rewards; not only do students often tell us that their study abroad experience was the most profound of their lives, they also claim that these experiences have significantly changed the way they live, giving them new direction and purpose. This period of transition takes time and patience from both students and parents, and there are things you can do to help your student along the process.

How you can help

The first thing you can do is learn about reentry and reverse culture shock in greater depth. Read the student resource section on our webpage entitled Back from Abroad. In general, you should encourage your son or daughter to:

1. Share and talk about their experiences. They may compare their host country to the U.S. quite often, and the comparison may not seem to paint the U.S. in the best light. This is normal for students returning from abroad. Just as when they are abroad they may often compare ways of doing things with the seemingly more efficient or logical "American way", the process works in reverse when the student is back. A common reaction many students have during reentry is surprise at the overwhelming abundance of different kinds of products available at local grocery stores or malls. This reality hasn't changed while students were away; rather, students have grown accustomed to far fewer choices and are sensitized for the first time to the fact that Americans have so much choice. Many American families eat on the go as they try to juggle busy schedules and separate obligations for each family member. In your son/daughter's home stay, however, s/he may become used to a sacred meal hour and may find this experience very rewarding (and the lack of it in the U.S. maddening!)
   
   Other common "complaints" students make returning back to the U.S. include how little walking they do or the lack of public transportation. This is a result of their reliance on foot power and public transport to get themselves around their host city. You should encourage your student to explore these differences and the reasons for them, and should try not to be offended by criticism that sometimes seems overly harsh. This is a function of the reentry process and your son or daughter is trying to rectify conflicting ideas in their heads. Try to learn from your son or daughter and understand their reactions. When they are back on campus, they may find their friends are not so willing to listen to endless stories about their abroad experiences, so the more you can listen to them, look at their pictures and talk about their reactions to the U.S., the better.
2. Encourage them to apply their experiences. The worst thing that can happen to a student returning from abroad is that they feel there is no connection between the experience they just concluded and the rest of their lives. The time abroad can start to seem like an unreal dream, a "bubble" that has no bearing on their current and future reality. You can encourage your son or daughter to continue taking classes where they can apply their experiences, be it further language study or history, literature, politics or art classes that touch upon the cultures they experienced. If they miss the food of their host country, encourage them to try to recreate some of this cuisine. There is an abundance of international recipes on the internet. Also encourage them to think about ways to integrate travel to their host country (or travel in general) into their career plans. All of us at the CGE are motivated in part by own experiences abroad, and similarly for many students, study abroad begins a life-long relationship with the rest of the world.
3. Encourage your student to take advantage of some of the reentry programs the CGE offers students returning from abroad. A description of these programs is available in the Back from Abroad section of our website.
   
   While students are still abroad, we email them a re-entry handbook, which addresses some of the issues they may soon be facing (reverse culture shock, missing the country where they studied, fitting in again at HWS, etc.) and lets them know about the re-entry activities we have available. When students return to HWS, they'll find a "Welcome Back Letter" waiting for them in their mailboxes. The letter will invite them to a Welcome Back lunch held early in the semester. It will also tell them about some of the programs we offer that will help them apply their study abroad experience, including:br />
   • The opportunity to submit their photographs, art and writing to The Aleph: A Journal of Global Perspectives
   • a weekly writer's group for students who went abroad and who want to use writing to further explore the experience
   • the Global Visions Gallery, which hosts shows of student study abroad photos and art
   • the chance to serve the CGE as a Programming Assistant - a paid position
   • the Global Ambassadors program where students can help to keep their own international experience alive by assisting international students at HWS and by helping out with programming aimed at students who are considering studying abroad
   • a career workshop held by the CGE and Career Services for those thinking about making travel a part of their professional life
4. Finally don't be surprised if your student's experiences lead him or her to a brand new career path or a life-long interest in travel. This is often a direct result of the highly satisfying experience abroad and normally opens many new doors to your student.