Home > Info for Parents

  • Info for Parents

    Before Going Abroad 

    • What are some of the benefits of study abroad? 

      • Students who study abroad are able to earn academic credits at ODU while experiencing a different culture. It does not hold a student back from their current goal: to earn a degree. Travel after graduation often provides less depth of learning, is less convenient and can be more expensive. 
      • Study abroad can provide students with a new sense of independence and confidence after having overcome some of the challenges often faced while abroad, such as adjusting to a new culture, learning a new language, navigating a new city, etc. 
      • Study abroad experiences indicate to employers that a student is able to be successful in environments where adaptability is necessary. A study abroad experience can be something that makes an individual stand out from other career applicants, and can give a student a competitive edge when applying for internships or full-time positions post-graduation.  
    • How do I know if my student is eligible to study abroad? 
      • In order to be a study abroad student with ODU, students must: 
        • Have completed a study abroad application with all supporting documents 
        • Be in good academic standing at the time of application and remain so through departure date. 
        • If participating in a co-sponsored program through our partner organizations, the student must have pre-approval of course credits from his/her academic advisor 
        • Have been accepted by the International Office at ODU 
        • Have completed any course pre-requisites (language requirements, etc.)
        • Transfer Students must have been at ODU for at least one academic year before departing for a study abroad experience
        • International students are able to study abroad, however, they must see the Director of the International Office in order to discuss this option.  
    • When does my student need to have his or her application completed by? 
      • Please check the webpage for the specific program that he/she is applying to.  
    • What is the difference between a Sponsored Program and a Co-Sponsored Program? 
      • A Sponsored Program is a study abroad experience that is completely organized and executed through Ohio Dominican. These programs have ODU faculty and staff that lead the program in order to create a fun and interactive learning environment for the students. A Co-Sponsored Program is one that is organized and executed by an external partner of ODU. ODU hand selects the Co-Sponsored Programs it chooses to endorse and will arrange for credit transfer before a student’s departure. Co-Sponsored Programs will often have participants from other U.S. and international institutions. ODU professors and staff will not accompany students on these programs, however, there is support for students while they are in their host country that is provided by the external partner with which ODU is working.  
    • How will I finance my student’s study abroad experience? 
      • For most semester programs, students are able to apply most or all of their federal and state financial aid toward their experience. This includes Federal Pell Grant, Ohio Choice Grant, Ohio Instructional Grant, Federal SEOG, Federal Perkins, Federal Stafford and Parent Loans. All financial aid arrangements must be made prior to leaving for the semester abroad. 
      • For short-term programs (such as summer programs or faculty-led programs), you should consult with the Financial Aid Office to research your options before the program. It may be possible to borrow federal loan programs if you are earning 6 or more credits for the short-term program. There will be some institutional scholarships for students participating in faculty-led programs.  
      • Regardless of the program, students are responsible for all other program fees, deposits, insurance, airfare, and overseas excursions unless otherwise noted. It is the student’s responsibility to make financial arrangements regarding these fees with the study abroad agency prior to departure.  
    • How does my student maintain eligibility to use his or her financial aid toward study abroad? 
      • A student must apply and be accepted by the International Office at ODU into an approved study abroad program. 
      • A student must meet with the Financial Aid Office prior to leaving for study abroad program to arrange his or her financial package.  
      • A student must maintain the equivalency of 12 US credit hours (minimum) while overseas to maintain full-time student status and financial aid eligibility.  
      • If you leave the ODU campus before financial aid is disbursed for the term you are studying abroad, you must make arrangements with your financial representative to handle your financial aid and/or scholarship checks coming through the ODU Business Office.  
    • How do payments work for the ODU-sponsored programs like May term? 
      • Each ODU-sponsored program will have an account set up through the Business Office and all student participants will pay their program fees into this account. 
      • Students will be given payment dates and amounts from the International Office and must make all payments in the Business Office. The student needs to let the cashier know which program he/she is participating in.  
      • Students will be required to pay a non-refundable deposit to secure their spot in the program. The remainder of the program fee will be divided up into multiple payments for the students.  
      • If the program is for academic credit, ODU tuition will be charged to the student as normal tuition would.  
    • Does my student need health or travel insurance while abroad? 
      • If your student is participating in an ODU Sponsored Program, he or she will be enrolled in a supplemental travel and health insurance package that has been hand-crafted by ODU staff for the purpose of study abroad. Once accepted into a study abroad program, your student will receive a description of benefits and covered medical expenses along with an insurance card prior to his or her departure. This insurance card should be carried with the student at all times at all times while overseas.  
      • If your student is participating in a Co-Sponsored Program, he or she will not be automatically enrolled in an ODU supplemental travel and health insurance program. Most likely, the Co-Sponsored program will include at least health insurance. Students studying abroad in Co-Sponsored Programs can talk to the Director of the International Office about travel insurance and/or health insurance if not covered.   
    • What documents does my student need in order to participate in study abroad programs? 
      • Each student who studies abroad MUST have a current passport. Applications for passports can be picked up from and returned to U.S. post offices. Depending on the duration and location of a study abroad experience, some students will also need to acquire a Visa. This process may be complicated (though should not deter students from participating in a particular program). If your student is unsure about whether he or she needs a Visa and how to go about getting one, he or she should visit the International Office in the Griffin Student Center for more information. 
    • How can I help my student in the process of planning their study abroad? 
      • Be supportive and encourage them to find the program that is best suited for their personal, academic, and career goals.  
      • Assist them in making travel arrangements and taking care of all necessary paperwork including fee payments and passport and visa (if necessary) applications. 
      • After your student has applied, encourage him or her to watch for important information via email regarding his or her application status, international healthcare information (if applicable), etc. 
      • Be informed about the study abroad opportunities available at ODU, yet respect that your student and you may have different ideas about which programs might be best.  
      • To better understand what your student is going through and what you can do as a parent, consider reading the following: 
    • Will I need to get my student a cell phone for their time abroad? 
      • For students who are engaging in long-term study abroad (a semester or more), it would be advisable to find a cell phone that works internationally. There are several different options for this and prices vary, so it would be wise to do some research before deciding which option would be best for your student.  
      • Many U.S. phones do not work on the same frequency bands that are used abroad. If you phone is able to be used abroad, you may need to ask your phone provider to turn on these capabilities. Be sure to ask about calling rates because though activating a phone in the U.S. is easier than finding a cell phone abroad, international calling rates are often significantly more expensive that domestic calling rates. Texting also has different costs when used internationally as opposed to domestically. 
      • Students will also have the ability to potentially purchase or rent a cell phone for the duration of their time abroad from a company that is located in their host country. This is often less expensive, though it can offer a little added stress, as your student will need to navigate their first few days in their host country without a cell phone. 
      • The ability to rent or buy a cell phone depends on the country. Some countries will not allow international students to purchase monthly cell phone plans. Many domestic cell phone plans students acquire are pre-paid.   

    • Can I visit my student while he or she is abroad? 

      • You are able to visit your student, however, please be aware that you will need to make separate accommodations at a hotel and will not be able to stay with your student. It is highly encouraged that if you are going to plan a visit, that you do so toward the end of your student’s experience or immediately following. This will help your student learn to adjust to his or her new environment and decreases the chances of homesickness. It will also provide a better experience for you, as your student will be better equipped to suggest restaurants, activities and sites to visit in his or her host country. Also, make sure to schedule your visit after your student has received his academic schedule for the term so that your visit does not conflict with exams, mandatory field trips, etc.   

    After Going Abroad 

    • Will my student have housing at ODU upon his or her return to the U.S.?  

      • Arrangements for housing must be made with Residence Life prior to a student’s departure for his or her host country.  

    • How do I ensure my student gets credit for the classes he or she took abroad?  

      • Your student should be sure to have requested an official transcript to be sent from the host institution to Ohio Dominican. This will ensure that ODU will have record of how your student performed while studying abroad and will ease the process of transferring credits.    

    • How do I stay in touch with my student while they’re abroad? 
      • There are many options for staying in touch with your student while they are abroad. Skype and Google can be used to talk to loved ones for free if both parties have the programs on their computers. If your student does not bring his or her own computer abroad, there are cafes where students are able to pay a low fee to use a computer and the Internet. 
      • Because of time zone differences, email is a popular option for staying in touch with a student who is studying abroad. Time differences can make it difficult to find appropriate and convenient times to talk for both parties, so if you find this is the case for you, consider this option. 
      • In order to call your student on the phone, you will want to make sure that you are using the correct international calling code. 

    • What should I do if my student gets homesick while abroad? 

      • Your student may experience homesickness while abroad and you can play an important part in their adjustment abroad. Firstly, encourage your student before and after their arrival in their host country to find ways to meet friends abroad. There are often opportunities for students to meet other students in the same program or in their classes in their host country. This will help your student adjust to life in a new country and given him or her peers that understand and are going through the same process. It is also important that you are conservative with your amount of communication with your student. Have enough conversation time on the phone or via Internet in order to have fun conversations about what he or she is doing, but do not engage in conversations that are excessively long. This can sometimes be difficult as parents, as you are undergoing the transition of maintaining a long-distance relationship, however, a student’s homesickness will be exacerbated if they are concentrating more on speaking with friends and family back home rather than meeting new people and succeeding in classes. Show your support for your student but gently push them to take advantage of the amazing opportunity to live abroad and encourage them to take full advantage of it.  

    • What can I expect when my student gets home from studying abroad? 

      • Students’ transitions back to U.S. culture vary depending on the individual. It is not uncommon, however, for students to experience some difficulty in adjusting back to their home culture. 
      • Students who have studied abroad may return with different attitudes regarding their culture, other cultures and their place in the world. This is okay. Study abroad students have been exposed to new experiences and are sometimes changed by them, either intellectually or personally. 
      • Students to return to the U.S. after studying abroad sometimes have negative feelings toward aspects of American culture. It is important that you are patient with your student while he or she adjusts and understand that these feelings should not be taken personally. It should also not be assumed that a student’s negative feelings may ever completely go away, however the student will likely find their place in American culture after some time has passed. 

      • Some students find it difficult to find other students who have had transformational experiences abroad and may feel as though others cannot relate to their new perspectives on the world. If your student wants to maintain international learning experiences, suggest they: 

        • Talk with the International Office about helping with study abroad orientations 
        • Get to know international students at ODU 
        • Read online newspapers from their host country 
        • Begin planning for future trips abroad, whether that be another study abroad, work, internship or personal travel experience 
        • Consider how he or she can incorporate what they learned into his or her future studies or career