How to Convince your Parents that you Need to Study Abroad

You are in college and have decided that in order to achieve your highest goals, studying abroad

will be the best step in the right direction. You’ve made your plans and you may have even

approached the subject with your parents, only to be faced with negativity and lack of support.

However, if you have not had that important conversation yet, hold off and learn a few helpful

tips to make the conversation go smoother. If you have already had the conversation, there is

always time for a second chance – this time making sure to cover the points that most parents

will worry about the most.

Show Responsibility

As a college student, you are on the verge of becoming a responsible adult, but might not have

reached that status quite yet, especially in your parents’ eyes. If mom and dad are still footing

your tuition bills and sending you money for food every month, it can be hard for them to picture

you hoofing it through a foreign country without a penny to your name. When you start off your

conversation with them about studying abroad, it helps to have a budget that you can show them.

Write everything out, including all costs of living, tuition, and traveling. Show your parents that

you have thought out every aspect of the trip that is within your control, including how you plan

to pay for it.

Perform Research

Your parents undoubtedly know that there are benefits of studying abroad, but they might not

know the intricate details. Show your parents benefits that include:

● Exposure to other cultures

● Learning a foreign language at a school, such as FLS International

● Learning to be more flexible in various learning environments

● Learning to work with people from all over the world

● Exposure to courses that are unavailable in your country

Explaining them and how they will benefit your specific career path can help your parents

become more excited about the opportunity.

Show Personal Growth

Another benefit that is not tangible, yet is a contributing factor in unending growth as an adult, is

the personal growth that you will experience while abroad. There are experiences out there that

are unavailable anywhere else, but you need a little independence in order to have them for

yourself. Tell or show your parents that you understand how to manage your time, your money,

and your future. Explain how you will master these skills and how they will benefit you as you

graduate college and enter the workforce. It helps if you start working on some of these skills

before you even talk to your parents about the possibility so that they can see that you are

capable of personal growth without constant supervision or assistance.

Ensure Constant Communication

Perhaps one of the scariest notions about children studying abroad is the lack of contact. Luckily,

today there are many ways to stay in contact that do not require extremely expensive phone

conversations that last for a minute or two. Show your parents the various ways that you can

communicate, whether through Skype or some other platform that allows you to not only talk,

but possibly even see one another while conversing.

The more prepared you are to talk to your parents about the benefits of studying abroad, the more

likely it is that you will receive a positive response. Even if your parents are not jumping up and

down with joy about your idea right away, with the right information at their fingertips, they

might be more able to come around and see the benefits that you will enjoy by studying abroad.

About FLS International:

FLS International offers courses for students of all ages to study English while living in America.

The courses are meant to be fun and engaging while helping you learn the language and culture

of the United States.