Statistics  show that millions of teenagers are sent abroad to study every year, so its nothing new. The numbers are increasing, as the standard of education drops in many third world countries. There are so many success stories, but there are also some sad stories too. Your decision should be yours, and not a result of social pressure.

Sending your child thousands of miles away from you to continue their education is a huge decision. It has its advantages and disadvantages, and the decision is unique to each family situation and the child particularly. It’s a great idea to check all the boxes before making a decision.

1. Affordability

No education is free, and going abroad for education is expensive. Even with a full scholarship, there are some expenses that will still need to be made out of pocket. Living expenses, rent, books, even a small car, (depending on the country) will need to be considered. It’s good to note that these expenses will be made in the currency of the country of study, exchange rates should therefore be considered.

2. Maturity and independence of the child

We are all different, and some children mature faster than others. Sometimes age is not a fair judge of maturity. If a child is sent out before he is ready to stand on his own, it may backfire .

Your teenager will be having a lot of things to contend with. Culture, teaching method, totally unfamiliar surroundings, unfamiliar food, having to make new friends and having to make decisions as required.

He can decide not to attend classes for the whole year. No one will ask questions. It’s a lot, even for an adult. Is your teen ready?

3. Family dynamics

Education is expensive. It would be good to take a look at your cash flow if this is not the last  child or only child.  How many more children do you have? What’s the age difference? Consider if you can afford to pay for two of them are in college at the same time, if they are to study abroad. Also consider how this affects your quality of life and the financial strain this may put on the family. Remember that study abroad is not the deciding factor when it comes to success.

4. Are you ready for change?

It’s a while new ball game. As teenagers mature, they get less dependent on you and begin to pull away. This is further hastened by sending them abroad to school. Are you prepared to allow your teen lead himself?

Don’t expect to be the one making the decisions from thousands of miles away. You will also not be told every thing. You need to be ready to trust your teen to take the lead. Brace yourself  for a change in the relationship dynamic.

5. Holidays and visitation

A budget for holidays or visitation is important. There are so many sad stories of teens going the wrong way and parents getting to know when it’s too late.

You need to invest now more than ever before in the relationship. Invest time, phone calls and physical visits or getting him a ticket to come home for holidays. It helps both you and your teenager.

Some go through a feeling of abandonment and may not cope with school work, or just get involved with the wrong crowd. Physical time spent together helps us detect when something is going wrong.

It’s a huge risk to ship your teenager off for 4years without physical contact between you.

 

Conclusion

No decision should be taken lightly, careful thought helps us arrive at a decision that is best for us. There is a lot to consider before sending your teen abroad. A good education cannot be overemphasized, but a lot of though should go into this.

It’s exciting when we give our children the opportunity to see the world and be the best they can be. This also comes with its own challenges.

It doesn’t also mean that nothing can go wrong if you keep your teenager close to you. It’s an individual decision.