Christine
It’s an Adventure!
You can do what everyone else does and just follow the herd to your local, overpriced university or you can try something new. Not only will your child get a college level education, they will learn about the world around them and meet people from other cultures. This one could argue is even more valuable than the classroom work they do.
It’s Cost Effective
The cost of a college education has risen outrageously over the last four years. It’s an absolute tragedy how many kids come out of school with huge debts that make them risk adverse. They can’t afford to start a business because they have to start paying off those debts in six months, so they have to find a job and be on someone else’s payroll. They can’t even goof around and travel for a year if they want, because these education debts are weighing them down.
The US should be ashamed at what they are doing to our young adults, at the most vulnerable periods in their lives. It’s a form of indentured servitude if you ask me. It’s the only loan that can’t be thrown into bankruptcy, so there really is no way out. You either pay it off or have it haunt you for years. Europe and other countries do not do this to their students. In Germany, it’s even free to non-residents after a year.
There are also so many programs now in English taught in Europe that with a little extra work, and a little nerve, your child can walk away with a solid education, great connections and little to no debt.
Your Child Can Learn a New Language
Didn’t do as well as you’d hope they would in those couple of language classes they taught your kids in school? Not surprised. It’s really tough to learn a language and stick with it, in the US. Unless you go out of your way to find those that speak the same language–some are easier than others depending on the language–it’s tough to maintain it.
I have always regretted not speaking at least one other language and am always so impressed when I hear someone switch back and forth. It will open up a world of doors and give your child a competitive advantage in this global economy. By going to college abroad, even if your child’s program is taught in English, they will still be exposed to another language outside the classroom. And, since it’s going to be used for practical purposes, the language your child picks up with be more functional and stay in their heads longer, than if they learned it in a classroom.
It Builds Confidence
As adventurous parent types, we know getting out there into the unknown and trying new things and meeting new people, and seeing that you can succeed, is the biggest confidence booster you can have. When I was an exchange student I remember being terrified at first, but then realizing, this isn’t so bad. I think I can be dropped anywhere and be able to figure it out. That lesson stayed with me from my 20s all through my life. Finding out that the world is not as big and scary as you thought, and people are not as different as you thought, gives you the confidence to know you can make it anywhere, even if it’s only for a few days. It changes your mindset to think globally, and understand that you are part of this big world, and not on the outside looking in from just your little corner.
You have an Excuse to Travel
Selfishly, I’d love my daughter to go to Italy. We joked that if she goes to Florence, I’ll just show up with empty suitcases. When you go to look at colleges or visit your child at school or on break, you have a good excuse to do amazing travel you might not have otherwise done. If your child goes to college in Europe, maybe you can crash at their place for the week and head out for some sightseeing fun either on your own or with them as your tour guide of wherever they have landed. Since they are already there, that’s one less ticket for you to buy. You can catch them at the end of the school year and do a little touring before heading home. I know cost can be a factor, but think about all the money being saved by having them go to school in another country to begin with.
Where to Find Out More
There’s a site I love, and when my daughter goes away to college the year after next, she’ll be leaning heavily into this site. It has everything you need to know about going to college overseas. Check it out. It’s called BeyondtheStates.com.
Photo by Amit Lahav on Unsplash
