Perhaps the best thing about sending your kids to college is that they are granted so many opportunities to expand their minds, meet new people, and increase their personal marketability. Academically speaking, college prepares young adults for the working world, and socially it can provide them with a vast network of connections to call upon later in life. Further, the time your kids spend in college will no doubt be transformative, helping them to figure out who they are, what they want, and what they believe in. And if they’re lucky, part of that experience will involve traveling to another country as a member of a study abroad program. However, sending your kids off to a foreign land, while exciting, can also be a bit terrifying. After all, they’re young and inexperienced in the ways of the world and anything could happen. So here are just a few safety tips you’ll probably want to impart before your kids head off for a few months of studying abroad.

1. Plan ahead. There are all kinds of things students must accomplish in preparation for participating in a study abroad program. Aside from taking language lessons and filling out all the application paperwork, they’ll also need to get necessary immunizations and arrange for a passport, both of which could take up to six weeks. They may also need to apply for a student Visa, a work Visa (depending on how long they intend to stay and whether or not they need a job), and an international driver’s permit. In short, a lot of planning goes into spending a semester abroad, and they need to give themselves enough time to get all of their ducks in a row. This will help to ensure that they have everything they need when they travel and that they have no trouble reaching their destination and returning home afterwards.
2. Learn the laws. It’s important to understand the laws of any country you’re in, and just because students are young doesn’t mean it’s okay to be unprepared in this regard. The local authorities certainly won’t cut visiting students any slack (just look at what happened to Amanda Knox). So take the time to go over pertinent laws with your kids prior to travel and stress that common sense is a must.
3. Use the buddy system. The nice thing about a study abroad program is that your students will either be housed with a local family or in dorms with other international students. This should help to keep them out of trouble to some degree. But make sure they understand that there are predators looking to take advantage of them because they are so obviously out of place. For this reason it’s wise to have a buddy around at all times.
4. Verify Insurance. Since medical insurance coverage may not extend to other countries, it’s a good idea to extend your policy or get additional travel coverage for your students. This will ensure that should they need to see a doctor or get a prescription their costs will be covered.
5. Understand the culture. A lot of social interactions are going to be something of a trial by fire, whether your students are studying history in Italy or preparing for ESL jobs in China. Other cultures have different traditions and standards of behavior. While your students will have to learn some of it on the fly, it couldn’t hurt to take some time to look online for cultural norms in order to avoid inadvertently insulting the natives. For example, Italians may offer warm greetings such as hugs and kisses and they may take offense when recipients pull away. In China it is considered rude to leave any food uneaten, even a few grains of rice in the bottom of the bowl. When students understand such basic cultural differences they are less likely to commit a social gaffe that could result in conflict.

Every college student should take advantage of their college’s study abroad program. The studying abroad experience will undoubtedly change their lives personally, academically, and professionally.