8 Guaranteed Ways Your Parents Will Ok Studying Abroad in Israel
As Thanksgiving/ Channuka break quickly approaches, now’s the time to really practice brushing up on your knowledge of studying abroad in Israel material. This way, when you’re at home and your parents start asking, you’ll be prepared and impress them so much that they will let you come to Israel and allow you to experience the best opportunity! Here are eight points to help convince them.
1. Plan Your Travels
A major concern for parents is safety, especially in Israel. By this age, students interested in studying abroad in Israel, are fully capable of making it just about anywhere and everywhere on their own. However, to parents (as well as for your own safety) having a list of basic information ready to be distributed before leaving to study in Israel or when you embark on a “self-planned weekend trip”, and basically any period when you’ll be away for longer than a day, will make a world of a difference in their confidence and sense of security.The list doesn’t need to be crazy, just include things like flight numbers and times, addresses and phone numbers, and of course departure and return dates.
2. It Boils Down to Numbers
A major reason parents are hesitant to permit their children to study abroad in Israel, is that they fear the child will show signs of irresponsible financial management, ie blow their money at the bar! An excellent way to front end this problem is by presenting parents with a simple budget that outlines the entire semester in terms of financials. Most study abroad in Israel programs publicize the average budget but take responsibility and create a budget that covers everything. From general to specific, include expenses like tuition and housing, weekly groceries, spending money, incidentals, cell phone bills. To really impress parents, maybe even show them some income generating ideas while studying abroad (Hello, English tutors). Sticking to a budget while studying abroad in Israel is not easy, but it shows parents that you’ve factored the costs of living abroad, and it will help you, and them, track your account while you’re on your own.
3. Explain Its Academic Advantages
Explaining to parents about the academic benefits of studying in Israel, 6,000 miles away, should be relatively easy. Besides the full credit offered at a program like Thrive @ Hebrew University, being exposed to unique teaching styles, introduced to new perspectives, and learning the Hebrew language, the opportunity to study it in the optimal environment – Israel- the only country that it’s spoken in. Parents should know (assuming it’s been cleared) that studying abroad in Israel will not jeopardize or impinge on progress at the home university and, in fact, full class credit will be administered for the time abroad.
4. Career Builder
In today’s market, having unique and diverse skills make students more marketable to grad schools and potential employers. Companies actively pursue candidates that show signs of the intangible life skills that are gained by studying abroad. A prospective candidate that is more familiar with global issues, offers a value that others hires can’t put on their resume– cultural capital. In a tough job market, resumes need to standout, studying abroad is an excellent way to set a resume apart from the rest.
5. Character Booster
Probably the biggest benefit of studying abroad in Israel is character development. A bulk of what you learn isn’t in the classroom. For many students, studying abroad will impart a sense of independence and confidence in navigating challenging situations. The intangible skills of independence, time management, organization, social skills, self confidence; exponentially develop while studying abroad, especially in a place like Israel. Sure, studying abroad requires parental assistance, but as individual students develop physically, mentally/ socially, and academically on their own.
6. Technology
Technology is a beautiful thing, and while it can’t reduce time differences, it certainly shortens the gap by enabling communicating with family and friends back home extremely easy, convenient, and cheap. Parents want to be updated about their child’s well being. Validate their concern to be in constant contact by scheduling a regular phone chat while studying abroad.
7. Subject Not Offered
An extremely overlooked reason to study abroad in Israel, is that certain classes that are only offered in another country. Classes like Modern Israeli politics or the Israeli Parliamentary System can only be offered and honestly answered by schools in Israel. Attending a school in a different country, virtually guarantees that a more diverse range of course material unavailable locally makes a convincing argument to parents, especially when the classes can be applied for full credit towards a major.
8. Safety First
Israel is a country that seen its history marred with violence. Despite its past, Israel has been a tourist center since 1948. And although a majority of students studying in Israel never experience a serious situation, incidents do occur, and it’s logical for parents to worry. Assuring parents of a child’s capability to live in Israel is highlighted by a knowledge and awareness of possible dangers. Most programs in Israel are required to have 24 hour security for tourists. Better to eliminate any doubts by proactively discussing these sensitive issues.
Virtually any reason against studying abroad can be countered by a valid reason for it. While we’re by no means advocating arguing with parents, being able to deflect their concerns will reflect a sense of responsibility that will make saying no much more difficult.
Keep these tips in mind, carefully craft the argument, and deliver it firmly in a manner that expresses a true desire to study abroad in Israel.
What reasons did you use when speaking to your parents about studying abroad in Israel?
