Staying in Touch

MCC recognizes the important role you as parents, guardians, or family members play in supporting your student through the process of participating in a study abroad program. We look forward to assisting your family through this journey!

Throughout the study abroad process parents, guardians, and families can play an important role in the health and safety of participants by helping them make decisions and by influencing their behavior overseas.

Scholarship page: Many scholarship opportunities are available exclusively to MCC students participating in our programs. Students should work with their study abroad advisor in our office to find out which scholarships are best for them.

If you are a family member or friend of someone who is studying abroad, you can help by:

  1. Being informed about and involved in the decision of the participant to enroll in a particular program.
  2. Obtaining and carefully evaluating participant program materials, as well as related health, safety and security information.
  3. Discussing with the participant any of his/her travel plans and activities that may be independent of the study abroad program.
  4. Engaging the participant in a thorough discussion of safety and behavior issues, insurance needs, and emergency procedures related to living abroad.
  5. Being responsive to requests from the program sponsor for information regarding the participant.
  6. Keeping in touch with the participant.
  7. Being aware that the participant themselves, rather than the program, may most appropriately provide some information.

Benefits of study abroad

group of students at event in open air classroom

In today's global society, an international experience has become an essential component of higher education. Education abroad enriches your student's academic experience by combining their studies with unfamiliar experiences. They will live in interesting places, visit historically and culturally significant sites, examine artifacts they have only read about, and interact with a diverse population. Many students return having gained the following skills/benefits:

  • Heightened interpersonal and communication skills
  • Deeper understanding of other cultures
  • Becoming more adaptable, assertive, and independent
  • Closer relationships with fellow students and faculty
  • Confidence and self-assurance
  • New or verified career goals
  • Foreign contacts and networking connections
  • Readiness to participate in further international and new organizations/activities

Support

It is important to note that your student may not be able to communicate with you consistently while abroad. Students will be busy with classes or immersing themselves in the foreign experience – so do not worry if you do not hear from your student every single day. However, there are several options for communicating with your student during their time abroad:

  • Facebook
  • FaceTime
  • Google Chat
  • International Phone Plans
  • Skype
  • Viber
  • WhatsApp
  • Zoom

Homesickness

It is not uncommon for students to become homesick during study abroad programs. However, homesickness can be part of the learning and growing process for your student. Please see Web Resources for useful information and tips on how to help your student.

Web Resources