Study Abroad: The Ultimate Parent Persuasion Guide
You’ve already been sucked down a YouTube rabbit hole and have spent countless hours scrolling Instagram. It’s easy to picture now: clouds rushing past your plane window, strolling to class with a close-up view of the Duomo and practicing your newly acquired Italian in Florence, or eating your meals with chopsticks and zooming through the Japanese countryside on weekends, or perhaps volunteering in Peru after Spanish class and spending your break week exploring the Amazon.
This is the dream—your dream. And to make it happen, you need your parents on your side.
While they will likely be excited for you and hopefully offer their support—emotionally, logistically, financially, or in whichever way they can—your request to study abroad will probably also send a reel of worries spinning through their minds: money, safety, credit transfers, if you’ll remember to call home (you will!), and more.
To turn a “maybe someday…” into an enthusiastic “YES!” prepare your response to each of their possible worries in advance with our handy guide below.
WORRY 1: HOW WOULD WE AFFORD THIS?
One of the first questions you will almost inevitably face is: How much is it?
This will quickly be followed by: How will we afford it?
First, do your research on the program you’re interested in. Know the cost—but not just the price listed. Dig deeper and make sure you understand what’s included in that amount and then take into account any extras that you will need to pay for separately. Know how this compares to the cost of a regular semester at home (taking into account your housing, transportation, food and personal expenses, not just tuition, so it’s comparable to the total semester abroad cost).
To make your goal easier to understand for both you and your parents, then break down the full cost of a semester abroad and—based on how much time you have between now and your anticipated travel date—calculate how much you’ll need to save each month, or week, or even per day.
Second, show initiative and have a money plan ready. We wrote a blog post you might find helpful as a starting point. It’s called, “Funding Your Study Abroad Program: 20 Strategies.”
Find out in advance if financial aid applies. Then you can let your parents know that you’ll plan ahead, apply for grants and scholarships, pick up extra hours at work, and embrace any of our other strategies on the list that feel achievable.
If you do plan to ask for financial support from your parents, know exactly how much you will require.
IF YOU’RE STUDYING ABROAD WITH EDODYSSEY: Depending on your destination, you can plan to budget for roughly $18,000-22,000 for a full semester abroad.
This includes program costs, insurance, housing, and other inclusions that you’ll find listed on each program page on our website. This also considers the “extras” that you’ll need to account for, like airfare, meals, entertainment, local transportation, average personal expenses, and more.
When you study abroad with us, you can choose to divide your program fee over multiple payments with autopay options to make it easier. We try to stay as flexible as possible and work with our students to create solutions that work with their personal situations.
WORRY 2: IS IT SAFE?
Once money worries are set aside, the next overwhelming worry that parents typically experience relates to your safety, and understandably since they will be so far away from you for several months. Of course their minds go immediately to the worst-case scenarios: pickpockets, wrong turns, kidnapping, illness, or other rare and dramatic situations.
Your best bet is to acknowledge their concerns and hit them with facts that you’ve researched in advance.
If you know your destination, you can gather statistics on crime rates from government websites and be sure to talk them through the health and safety support offered by your chosen provider in as much detail as possible.
Find out if you’ll be living on campus, in an apartment, or with a host family and then take some time to learn about the neighborhood(s) where your host school and accommodation will be, as relates to safety.
And, of course, promise them that you will check in regularly and keep in touch.
IF YOU’RE STUDYING ABROAD WITH EDODYSSEY: Health and safety is our top priority and we work tirelessly to mitigate risk and support the health and safety of all of our students.
Take a minute to familiarize yourself with our Health & Safety page, which you can also share with your parents. It will walk you through our comprehensive insurance offering; established health, security, and emergency protocols; how we monitor local events and situations in all of our locations and how we will communicate with you should a serious event arise. You’ll have 24/7 emergency support, in-country networks and local support, a mandatory orientation which reviews the most important country-specific details like emergency contacts, health/safety/security protocols, cultural reminders, and the “911” equivalent.
We’ve been leading students abroad for more than a decade. You can reassure your parents that we’ve been trusted by thousands of students and their families over the years.
WORRY 3: WHAT IS SOMETHING GOES WRONG?
The idea of their child (who will always be their child, no matter their age) navigating the streets in a foreign country (and often several different countries if you take into account the travel plans study abroad students tend to make for weekends and break weeks) can make most parents break out in a cold sweat.
What if you’re homesick? What if you have an injury? What if you’re struggling to adapt to cultural differences? What if you lose your passport? What if… what if… what if…
These things can happen when you travel. In fact, they’re some of the reasons study abroad contributes to personal growth. But your parents can rest assured that you’ll be in the best of hands with professionals who have experienced these mishaps themselves on their own travels and with other students over the years. All great study abroad programs will have a built in support network for students to lean on. Be sure to research the program you have in mind so you know what to expect in terms of in-country support.
You’ll likely have in-country program leaders, professors, local connections, perhaps a host family, and other students who understand and can help deal with any travel mishaps—however trivial or serious.
And if your parents still look skeptical, remind them that you’re able to be more connected and contactable than study abroad students who traveled even just a decade ago—with social media, WhatsApp, and email all easily accessible to you.
IF YOU’RE STUDYING ABROAD WITH EDODYSSEY: At EdOdyssey, we’ve all studied abroad. Some of our team members have also lived and worked abroad after university; some of us in multiple locations. We understand firsthand what makes a great program, the importance of the mix of independence and a supportive environment.
From application to arrival and through return, our team will guide you every step of the way. You’ll start with a 1-on-1 video call with your local team so they are familiar faces before you even travel, and all of your pre-departure questions will be answered. When you arrive, we set aside some time before classes begin for a comprehensive orientation where we walk through the health and safety guidelines mentioned above, talk about expectations and specifics of life in the country you chose including local norms and culture, and help you settle in on the academic side of life abroad too.
Throughout your program, you can count on plenty of support from us, and we’ll be there to support you after you fly home too.
WORRY 4: WILL YOU STAY ON TRACK FOR GRADUATION?
Once money and safety are discussed, you might find the questions turn to academics.
Will your credits transfer? Is the quality of education comparable to your home university? Will you be too distracted to study? Will you still graduate on time?
Your parents want to make sure that studying abroad isn’t just a semester-long vacation with a few easy lectures sprinkled in for good measure; it’s a strategic move, and it’s not going to hold you back academically. The opposite, in fact.
Present them with a clear academic game plan:
Find out which courses on offer at your host university will count toward your major/minor. Talk to an academic advisor or your study abroad office about pre-approved classes. And have a backup plan in case one of the classes you want to take doesn’t transfer.
You can let your parents know know that, according to NAFSA (National Association of Foreign Student Advisors), students who study abroad tend to return home more academically focused and motivated. Also, study abroad has been proven to positively impact students in a variety of ways including (according to an assessment by the University System of Georgia) that students who studied abroad have a 17.8% higher 4-year graduation rate than those who did not. An Indiana University Bloomington study found that they also earned higher grades and completed degrees in four years at a higher rate than their peers.
IF YOU’RE STUDYING ABROAD WITH EDODYSSEY: Your advisor will start working with you and your university right away to choose, and pre-approve, your courses for easy transfer.
If needed, we’ll even help you “petition” if this program is not yet pre-approved.
The host universities we partner with in each semester location were selected with quality of education top of mind.
In Peru, our partner Pontificia Universidad Catolica del Peru (PUCP) is the oldest private university in the country and is ranked as one of the best 25 universities in all of Latin America and #1 in Peru. It sits on a 100-acre campus and students enjoy modern facilities, beautiful gardens, and even an archaeological site.
In Florence, we partner with the popular Florence University of the Arts (FUA) — the American University of Florence. This is an Italian Institute of Higher Education, a free-standing, private, non-denominational institution. Small, engaging classes are the norm here, which means plenty of individualized attention and many courses use the city itself as a core part of the curriculum.
In Japan, our host Seinan Gakuin University is a humanities-focused university with a long history of international exchange and cooperation. The international exchange program, now managed in the Center for International Education, is one of the oldest such programs in Japan.
WORRY 5: IS IT REALLY WORTH IT?
Beyond the incredible Instagram content you’ll create while away, your parents will want to know that this is a decision that has a worthwhile return on investment. And you can ensure them—backed by research from reputable institutions—that the answer to that question is a resounding YES!
Know your stats. Here are a handful to get you started:
A study by the IIE (Institute of International Education) found that “64% of employers prefer candidates with international experience, leading to faster career advancement. With around just 10% of students studying abroad, you’ll stand out among your peers in grad school and future job applications.
Your starting salary is likely to be higher too. HSBC found that “graduates who have studied abroad can expect to earn 15–20% more than their counterparts who have not.”
An analysis by the SAGE Research Project of 6,000 alumni over 50 years showed that study abroad had a substantial long-term impact on individuals' career paths and global engagement.
Once your parents understand the professional development, you can share the personal benefits too. One strong example is Student Universe’s report “The State of Student Travel in 2024,” which features survey results that show “93% of Gen Z believe traveling has a beneficial impact on their mental state, and almost 90% return feeling less anxious and more positive.”
Students who study abroad tend to become more adaptable, flexible, culturally competent, better at solving problems, self-confident, and more independent. They develop a global mindset, perhaps learn a language, improve their communication skills, understand different ways of thinking and living, cultivate a stronger sense of curiosity, and are able to express broader perspectives on global issues. It’s often a period of connection, reflection, and clarity, and the benefits often last a lifetime, as do the friendships.
IF YOU’RE STUDYING ABROAD WITH EDODYSSEY: Point your parents to some of our reviews.
You can start with Jaye Conn who wrote of her semester with us in Italy: “The endless supply of food, art, and culture in Florence is magical. My only regret is not staying longer! Engaging with Italian culture has taught me to appreciate quality and never stop exploring. I can’t wait to return to my home away from home!”
She followed this up with a 5-star review on our Google Business page where she wrote: "I had a wonderful experience in Florence, Italy with the help of EdOdyssey. My study abroad experience went smoothly, and the provided weekend excursions were incredible! I would recommend the service to anyone looking to study abroad. The staff are so kind and helpful.”
A FEW FINAL TIPS
The points above cover the most common parental concerns about studying abroad, and if your parents seem open to discussion, point out that it is a victory for them too. They might visit you abroad (a fun trip and a bonding opportunity!), and they will definitely have bragging rights and a talking point with friends. Not only is their child studying abroad, but they’re likely to return fiercely independent, open-minded, well-rounded, and much more employable than they would have been otherwise.
Remind them that you’re making a serious, informed decision about your education and future and that you’d love for them to be part of the process.
Make a plan for how, and how often, you’ll be in touch.
Show them you’ve given careful consideration to this decision. Know your “why” and share the goals you have in mind.
Take a deep breath, plan a good relaxed moment for a talk, and let your excitement and enthusiasm shine through.
If your parents have questions or concerns that you’re not sure how to address, reach out and we’ll help guide you through it.
