Your child wants to study abroad, and now your family faces the challenge of selecting the right program that will give your student the best possible cultural and educational experience.

This two-part article is designed to help you ask the right questions and get the right answers. Then, once your child has identified what he or she wants out of a study abroad experience, IIEPassport can help find the program that fits best.

I.   Your Criteria for Programs
The first thing you and your student must do is decide what the needs and desires are when it comes to studying abroad. Programs for studying abroad vary greatly in a number of different ways. You may want to compile a list of questions for your child to answer, such as:

• Where do I want to study abroad?
• When do I want to study abroad?
• What do I want to gain from studying abroad?
• Do I want to live in a dormitory, an apartment or with a host family?
• Do I want to improve my foreign language skills or become completely fluent in a language?
• How long do I want to study abroad?
• How much will my studies abroad cost?

You might also pose follow-up questions, such as:

• Do I want to study in a country that doesn't speak English?
• Do I want to be in a city or in the country?
• How much is the cost-of-living (Senegal, Africa, vs. London, England, for example)
• Do I want to work, intern or volunteer while abroad?
• How will this affect my major and my career goals?
• How will this affect my credits?
• How will I arrange housing for when I return? What about voting while I'm away? Paying credit card bills?

Perhaps your student already knows the answers to some of these questions, but these and others like them can be more helpful than you realize, once the process of choosing a study abroad program begins.

A preliminary caution is to read the study abroad program literature carefully. Try to cut through the language that sounds like advertising to get to the meat of the information you are seeking. Make sure the program provides a contact person to whom you can direct your questions. And you should have questions. A good study abroad program will have someone available to answer those questions.

Choosing Where to Study
The first order of business is for your student to choose the desired study abroad location. In addition to choosing a country, your child should decide whether he or she would like to study in a city or in a smaller town. Both choices have their advantages. Big cities are likely to be the center of much of the entertainment and cultural institutions, while the smaller towns and villages will give your student a real taste of what it is like to live everyday life in the chosen country and become truly immersed in the culture.

While cities will have more resources and more people who speak English, they can also be more expensive and "touristy." On the other hand, the smaller villages and towns, while steeped in the native culture, may not be as accessible to transportation and other necessities, and if you don't speak the language or understand the customs, a simple trip to the grocery store can become difficult and frustrating. But also exhilarating.

You and your student must also decide what type of program provider is right for the student. Programs can be sponsored by your student's school or by an outside agency. You should scrutinize each program you consider on the basis of what is included in the program fees. Some programs include transportation, housing and insurance costs, while others do not. So while one may be cheaper, it may not factor in the cost of actually living in the country, which can increase costs dramatically. Also, just as you did with your child's domestic education, consider what facilities are offered through different programs, as well as the reputation of the program itself.

Choosing When to Study
Your student must also decide when he or she would like to study abroad. Programs run during the regular semester, and some during the summer. Part of this decision may be based on what the weather is like in the country during those given times. A student may also decide on studying at a certain time because he or she plans some side-travels while in the foreign country.

The Curriculum
You and your student must decide what program provides the type of curriculum he or she would like to study. Some programs are foreign language-based, while others give choices of different majors. While most students tend to choose a program that is in alignment with the rest of their college studies, your child may want to take electives or classes that do not contribute to the major he or she is working toward. The location has a lot to do with that. Your student may not have studied art before, but would not be able to pass up a chance to take art history class in the Louvre.

The Supporting Players
Whether or not your student decides to study with other Americans can also make a huge difference in what program to choose. Some programs involve studying alongside other American students, which often finds the students spending all their time with others just like them. But other programs can fully immerse students in the native culture, placing them either in an internationally populated apartment complex or with a host family. Your student can choose to enroll directly in an international school and be fully immersed, or study abroad through his or her American college and travel with a group of U.S. students.

Overcoming the Language Barrier
Language skills are another element to take into consideration. If your child is already fluent in the language of the country in which he or she will study, that student will have no problem learning in classes that are taught in that language. Students with less proficiency in the foreign language have options, however, including outside classes that teach them enough of the language to "get-by"; programs that facilitate the enhancement of foreign language skills by incorporating them into the curriculum; or schools made for American students taught entirely in English. Keep in mind, though, that students tend to learn a foreign language faster when they experience hearing and speaking it in its native country, so the Americanized version of a study abroad experience is not always the most enriching way to go.

Where to live
Another factor to think about is housing. Some programs include housing, while others do not. For the ones that do, a number of housing options exist. Some students may choose an exchange program in which they live with a host family in their destination country. These host families often assimilate the student into daily life in the household and expect the students to contribute. Other students will choose to live in a dormitory to be with students from their native country. Still others may decide to live on their own. It is not advised that students live on their own without proficiency in the language and a deep understanding of the foreign culture. Figure out what your child would prefer the most, and also consider what your preference would be. Would you, for instance, feel comfortable with them living with a host family, or would you prefer them to be with peers in a controlled environment?

II.   Let IIEPassport Be Your Guide
Now that you and your student have an idea of what you are looking for in a study abroad program, log on to IIEPassport and begin your search. We offer a free, easy way to search for study abroad programs by:

• Country
• City
• Field of study
• Language
• Academic level
• Organization
• Term
• Format

Our information center has a wealth of resources, and features both the student center and the study abroad student guide.

The student center offers articles and advice on almost every topic related to studying abroad. You can also subscribe to an e-mail newsletter or check out our Country of the Month and Featured Subject of the Quarter profiles. Additionally, IIEPassport will keep you current on the hottest new program offerings, and you can find information on scholarships, fellowships and grants at StudyAbroadFunding.org.

Our student guide is invaluable for anyone planning to study abroad. You can read the frequently asked questions and learn detailed information you will need to know in order for your student to have a successful study abroad experience. The student guide has everything you and your student would want to know about studying abroad, including:

• Requirements
• Enrollment options
• Housing
• Research tips
• Financial aid information
• Resources on working abroad
• Culture shock

Let the IIEPassport student guide give you the framework you need for the departure and reentry of your student. Our site can talk you through all the steps you need to take, to ensure your child has a safe and exciting study abroad experience.