Studying abroad is one of the most rewarding opportunities undergraduate students can experience while in college. It is important that students from all backgrounds take advantage of the opportunity to study abroad. Study abroad can make a significant impact on a student’s understanding of the rest of the world. Students who study abroad also make an impact on citizens of other countries as they meet a diverse group of U.S. College and university students who are studying abroad.

Every year, more and more students are heading to foreign lands to study for credit. The most recent figures from the Institute of International Education show that during the 2004-2005 academic year, over 205,000 U.S. students studied abroad. Despite this continued growth, the total number of students studying abroad represents only about 6% of total undergraduate student population in the U.S. For those students who do study abroad, this experience is not only an academic highlight of their undergraduate studies but it’s also a very marketable experience for their resume when applying for jobs and graduate studies.

In November 2005, the Commission on the Abraham Lincoln Study Abroad Fellowship Program released its report with the vision to send one million students abroad by the 2016-2017 academic year. To achieve this goal, the Commission firmly believes that “the demographics of the U.S. undergraduate students abroad should be similar to those of the U.S. undergraduate student population.” A similar stance was taken by the NAFSA: Association of International Educators Strategic Task Force on Education Abroad when it released its report in 2003. The Strategic Task Force stated that, “the United States is failing to show the world the diversity of its population. Study abroad can be a truly eye-opening experience for Americans of all races who discover that people elsewhere categorize them more by national origin than by ethnicity.” These two major reports are only two examples of the field’s call for greater student diversity on study abroad programs.

Some of the reasons minority students give regarding their decision to not study abroad are related to program costs, needing to remain close to family, concerns about discrimination, and concerns about language and program sites not being of interest. These reasons affect participation in study abroad across cross-racial and ethnic lines. It’s important to be supportive of your child and to work together as you provide advice and guidance while they investigate all of their options. With proper planning and support, all students can and should participate on a study abroad program.

Allabroad.us offers students from diverse backgrounds and their parents a place to find answers to their common study abroad questions and concerns such as what study abroad program length is best, how does financial aid factor into paying for this opportunity, health and safety issues, or availability of support services while abroad. Mentors from across the United States who have studied abroad and understand the process have provided answers to a variety of questions that you and your student may have. Please visit the special section of the website designed specifically to answer questions and concerns that parents, such as yourself, may have. Allabroad.us Mentors represent the diversity found throughout the United States and in U.S. higher education and we hope that you find their stories both informative and inspiring as you help your student make this educational leap abroad.

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