<p>Not one person here can truly decipher if this plan is a creative, adventurous, and potentially growth producing endeavor, or if it signals a deeper confusion and is cause for concern.</p>
<p>why cant she do study abroad in college?</p>
<p>At her age, I was also considered bright and sensible, and had the idea of a gap year long before it was called that. I had creative, impressive ideas about what I would do (went to Ky. to work with nurse midwives, travel) but there was a troubled layer underneath that was, I think, not apparent to anyone, including me, but that later became quite evident.</p>
<p>I agree with the person who said not one of us can help decipher this, but I can understand the reason for the post.</p>
<p>Almost all ESL teachers in Germany are from the EU and have a college degree; the latter are pretty much a requirement. It would be extremely difficult for this girl to find an above-board ESL job.</p>
<p>Medical school places in Germany are limited in numbers (‘numerus clausus’). A very limited number of places are allocated to non-EU citizens. You have to qualify for the fairly strict language requirement and the competition is fierce for these limited spaces.</p>
<p>All sounds rather fishy to me and if it was my daughter I would have my nose working overtime.</p>
<p>Time for a face to face with your daughter. She needs to hear how disappointed her father is and how concerned you are about her fanciful plans.</p>
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<p>I’m…very flattered. Thank you. :)</p>
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<p>This is a good point. I am a US citizen who worked in Switzerland (which has very strict policies about immigration and foreign workers) for a summer, and I was able to get a visa pretty easily because the prominent research lab that I was working for took care of the paperwork and dealing with the requirements. To the OP, while you’re asking your daughter about other aspects of her plan, it would be reasonable to ask her how she plans to get a visa (if she has a TESOL/TESL cert, there may be an organization that intends, or is willing, to sponsor her for one).</p>
<p>I would, however, refrain from telling your daughter about how disappointed you are in her and how she’s throwing away her life in this heart-to-heart. Even if you think it, making it clear will probably not actually make the conversation more productive, as then she’ll likely be emotional, defensive, reluctant to disclose anything, and trying to win an argument rather than discuss a plan.</p>
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<p>Ja, I was about to type (but hesitated), “Any chance there’s a boyfriend in this picture?” when I read Sorghum’s words. Glad he said it first.</p>
<p>Mexifrenchy, after a little time passes, maybe a personal visit would be in order?</p>
<p>Do you think it would be possible for her to go to college on schedule and then spend a semester or so in Germany?</p>
<p>That way, she could explore the pre-med route (wanting study medicine and get a degree to do reconstructive surgery is quite a different career path from someone who’s been spending much time doing languages! Neat combo though) and start studying German and keep her parents happy.</p>
<p>I know nothing about medicine in Germany, but as a pre-med here in the States I know that a lot of programs and hospitals pretty much require doctors here to be trained, at least in some capacity, in the United States.</p>
<p>Seems like this plan needs a LOT more research in order to be feasible. </p>
<p>I agree that it sounds a little fishy, and I tend to be one of those bold, naive college kids with the wind in my sails, sky’s the limit type. Seems like you guys have a close relationship–maybe just try talking with her? Perhaps she’s thought this through a lot more than you give her credit for. Good luck to all of you!</p>