For many, the thought of relocating abroad with a teenaged child brought on too many questions to make it a viable option. How would the teen adapt socially when removed from friends and family? How would the student stay "on track" to be able to apply to and get into the best college or university? Many families said "no, thank you" to international assignments and moved on. In today's globally minded business world, however, "no, thank you" is no longer an option. More and more families are proving that internationally relocating teenaged children can continue down successful educational paths, and oftentimes bring something quite unique to the post-secondary experience.

That's not to say that it isn't challenging. The key to a good educational outcome for any relocation is planning. Before leaving the home country and setting out on the assignment, the family must set long-term goals for the child. If the teen wishes to return to the home country to attend university, she needs to know what type of academic record will be accepted upon her return. The family can consult admission officers or education consultants to determine this information. Standardized testing for admission into U.S. colleges (e.g., the PSAT and SAT) is available around the world. The family only needs to decide how and when the tests will be taken abroad. Best of all, students need not take specific coursework to successfully take these tests.

If the teen wishes to attend university abroad, there are other options to consider. One would be attending university in the host country. To do so, the student should enroll in the host country education system and begin planning to take the required standardized tests for university admission. Again, admission counselors or education consultants can be helpful in this regard.

If the student wishes to keep his options open to almost any international university, he should consider the International Baccalaureate (IB). The IB is broadly regarded as one of the most academically-strenuous degrees, and, not surprisingly, it is also the most transferable. If the teen decides to pursue an IB, then the family should only look at secondary schools offering it in the host country. For more information on this degree, please consult: www.ibo.org

Once the student's long-term goals have been identified, the family should stay on track with the education plan. The family should determine timeframes for testing and application deadlines. The teen should be encouraged to view the international relocation as a good opportunity - a step along the way towards his ultimate goal of university admission.

An international assignment does not mean doomsday for a teen's university dreams. On the contrary, in today's competitive university admission world, an international experience is very well regarded. The teen can easily showcase it to demonstrate why it has made her unique, and it may even set her apart from other applicants.

How Do Universities Decide Who to Admit? No matter where the student applies, there are a few standard criteria for university admission: • Good Grades in Solid Courses &endash; students should take rigorous classes • Great Essays &endash;demonstrate that the student writes well & is a well-rounded individual • Strong Testing Scores &endash; students must take testing seriously • Strong Extracurricular Activities &endash; showcase community work, internships, volunteering, etc. • Qualities Making the Student Special &endash; living and/or studying abroad, graduating early, etc.

Georgia Bennett is President of Bennett Educational Resources, Inc. She has been an education consultant for over twenty-five years specializing in worldwide school and university placements.

"Reprinted from Relocation Today, vol. 6, no. 7 with permission from BR Anchor Publishing. Contact Beverly D. Roman, publisher at broman@branchor.com or 910.256.9598. See her books at www.branchor.com