Parent Information

Weekend Trip Outside Harbin, China

CET Academic Programs is pleased your son or daughter will study abroad with us. The CET staff is committed to helping your child make the most of this opportunity.

CET Policy on Communication

CET considers students to be adults, capable of handling multiple tasks and sharing information. Applying to study abroad already requires considerable initiative and independence, and CET strives to develop these qualities further in our contact with your son or daughter. It is CET policy to direct all correspondence to the student rather than the parent. This allows your son or daughter to take ownership of his/her study abroad experience. CET encourages students to communicate important details with their parents, study abroad offices, academic advisors and faculty members.

Cultural Adjustment: Supporting Your Son or Daughter

All students experience culture shock. It is a natural and necessary part of studying abroad. CET places students in challenging environments because it is precisely within those environments that learning occurs. As a parent, you can expect that your son or daughter will experience many ups and downs.

With the CET commitment to challenge students comes another commitment: to assist students during tough periods of adjustment. Resident Directors are on site to listen and counsel, and point out other resources if necessary. In our experience, students often work through their culture shock most effectively by embracing immersion. For example, they might make local friends, speak the local language as much as possible (whether required or not) and refrain from seeking too much refuge among other Americans. Students who detach themselves from the everyday occurrences of their home and campus lives in the United States are generally more successful developing their independence overseas.

Some of the most difficult culture shock can occur upon return to the United States as re-entry shock. Many students find themselves missing life overseas. Please anticipate that your son or daughter might need extra support during this transitional time as well.

Preparation Guide

CET encourages your son or daughter to share program information with you. At the same time, CET understands that you may want more information than your child is willing to give. We offer the topics below as a starting place for important conversations to have with your son or daughter about studying abroad. Having these conversations now can help eliminate miscommunication down the road.

Finances

Discuss how and when all program fees should be paid
Create a budget for expenses abroad
Decide how money will be accessed abroad
Copy banking information—one copy for student and one to leave at home (in case of lost or stolen belongings)

Travel Documents

Check the validity of student’s passport
Understand the visa regulations for the study abroad destination
Discuss the process for acquiring a visa (if necessary)
Consider obtaining a passport for one parent or guardian (to be used in case of an emergency)
Copy all important travel documents—one copy for student and one to leave at home (in case of lost or stolen belongings)

Communication

Exchange all contact information
Plan to communicate on arrival day through email or phone
Research communication options that will work best for your schedule, situation and budget
Establish norms and expectations regarding phone calls/emails

Health and Safety

Discuss physical health and needs abroad with a medical professional
Research the legality of current medications in host country
Secure medications for time abroad (including prescription, over-the-counter and vision)
Create a communication plan for emergencies
Review international health insurance plan information.
Copy all insurance documents—one copy for student and one to leave at home
Read the CET Safety Policy.

This list is not exhaustive nor intended to be a complete preparation guide. Your son or daughter’s program handbook contains more specific information.