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Choosing to study abroad is one of the best decisions a student can make, and we are thrilled your child is preparing for a semester of new experiences, cross-cultural immersion, academic rigor, and significant personal growth.

Please talk with your child about study abroad. Though we do everything we can to make the study abroad experience educationally and personally rewarding, the single best thing you can do to get your student ready is discuss what it means to be abroad. Things will be--and should be--very different from what we're used to in the United States. The pasta may be fresher, the bedrooms smaller, the music louder, the internet access less reliable… we could go on. But the net result is that studying abroad opens up a world of opportunity and cultural difference to students. Encourage them to dive headlong into it, of course, but also make sure that they're prepared for the realities of a different country, with different expectations, attitudes, and customs.

NYU Study Abroad Parents Communication Coordinator

Do you have questions about the NYU Study Abroad experience?  Contact our Parents Communication Coordinator, Ellen Katradis, at (212) 992-9941 or at global.parents@nyu.edu.  She is happy to talk to all parents about NYU study abroad programs.

The Parents Role in Study Abroad

Parents form an integral part of the study abroad experience by supporting their student’s choice to embark on this academic and life-enriching endeavor.  Here are some specific ways to show support and be involved in the process:

  • Make sure your student’s visa paperwork is in order.  Visa instructions can be found under the “admitted students” page for each site.

  • Assist with flight arrangements.  Your student has been given group flight and travel agent information.

  • Develop a plan for handling family emergencies that may arise while your student is abroad.

  • Read through the “admitted students” page for your child’s site in its entirety.  The page contains a step-by-step list of required actions necessary prior to departure.

  • Sign up for our parents’ listserv by sending an email to join-global-parents@lists.nyu.edu.  We will send periodic emails to update you on necessary study abroad preparations.

Resources for Parents

As the semester progresses, parents of admitted students receive three mailings that discuss various issues, like how best to help students with the transition to life abroad and how to plan for appropriate physical and mental health care overseas. Throughout these letters, you'll notice a common theme--that your child's safety and well-being are our top priority at all times. Here are links to those letters:

We e-mail one final letter directly to students that you should be aware of--a letter about charges that will appear on their electronic bills.  A link to that memo:

Second, NYU offers scholarships and need-based financial aid to qualified applicants. We strongly encourage students to visit the financial aid section of the NYU Study Abroad Admissions' website as soon as they apply. Details can be found by visiting the link below:

Third, many parents call to ask what sorts of materials students receive when they're admitted to study abroad. Many of them can be found under the "admitted students" tab of this website, but you'll find links below to the general acceptance e-mail, letter, and pre-departure presentation & handouts:

Lastly, we want to point out that our staff is here for you and your family. In addition to our Parents Communication Coordinator, during business hours, if you have questions about helping your son or daughter prepare for life abroad, please contact:

Office of Global Programs 212-998-4433 or abroad.admissions@nyu.edu

At other times, if you're calling with an emergency about the physical well-being of a student who's currently abroad, a member of our staff can be reached by calling NYU Public Safety at 212-998-2222.

One final note: if you're planning to ship packages abroad, please pay special attention not only to shipping costs, but also to possible taxes that you son or daughter will have to pay when picking up your care package.  These costs vary dramatically and the laws governing them change frequently, so it's best to ask your shipping carrier of choice for more information.

Again, congratulations to your child for being accepted into an NYU Study Abroad program!  We look forward to working with you in the coming months.