How to Understand and Balance Study Abroad Costs

Posted by Kristen White
8
Apr 1, 2020
319 Views
Deciding what to spend money on is about understanding current expenditures, the benefits of the investment and what can the family afford. In some cases, students who are attending private schools in their home country may actually find it is cheaper to study abroad in a foreign school because their cost of living is lower or the schools are more affordable. Parents and teens need to research the different vendors with available options to determine if there is a country that is cheaper or a study abroad program that will fit in their budget.

The gap year abroad program is shorter than a full-year and is designed for recent high school graduates who want to travel before they start college or enter the work force. It is common for young adults to travel before settling down so why not make it a learning trip where you can participate in different activities, tour the country, meet new people and stay with a host family all coordinated by a single resource. This is a great addition to the college application and job resume as they are looking for individuals with diverse experience who can understand various global issues and ethnicities. In this aspect, the program is an investment in the individual’s future with benefits that may make it worth the cost.

The simplest approach is to find a list of cheap foreign exchange student programs so you can compare them together. Every vendor will have a different cost dependent on their associations, host family expenses, travel and documentation fees and other steps that require payment. Families can work directly with the agency to take care of these upfront or in payments if participating in the full-year program or choose a shorter option. The summer programs are lower in cost because they involve a shorter time frame and so fewer expenses and transportation prices vary throughout the year based on peak fly times and environmental influences. These are all considerations that can be worked through the agency to determine which is the right option for your family based on budget. Summer camps and activities also have costs so changing these out for an international option may be slightly higher but not as dramatic of a difference as you might expect when you work with a reputable vendor that knows how to keep prices down without sacrificing quality.

Money is important and it is necessary to balance needs as well as benefits so before making a decision, be sure to have all the facts so you know whether a study abroad program is a good fit for your teenager. The world is growing fast and becoming a smaller place with companies going global easier and those with the skills to navigate and understand these areas are going to be more competitive than those without. Take time to consider the benefits, identify the budget and see if there is an agency that can work with you to give your teen the experience of a lifetime to benefit their future. 
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