Useful Resources

• The We're Moving to Europe Membership Community: Practical Support and Guidance for Planning your Move from the US to Europe
• We’re Moving to Europe Free Substack
• Karen Shopoff Rooff (LinkedIn)
• Personal Fit College Consulting

Production Team
Host and Researcher: Casey Kelly-Barton – We’re Moving to Europe

Producer and Editor: Magdalena Laas – Unscripted Creatives

[0:03] Feeling overwhelmed about moving to Europe?
[0:10] Introducing the We're Moving to Europe community
[0:23] Learn at your own pace with expert support
[0:29] Monthly classes, tools, and resources
[0:37] Reliable, up-to-date information
[0:43] Practical guidance and early podcast access
[0:58] Helping you make your own decisions
[1:08] Find us at skool.com
[1:48] Welcome and intro to the episode
[2:19] Meet Karen Shopoff Rooff
[2:52] How Karen got into college coaching
[3:29] Addressing educational inequity
[4:18] Pandemic-era inspiration and early work
[5:07] Finding the right fit for students
[5:33] Dispelling college consultant myths
[6:05] Karen's international education story
[7:01] Life-changing London experiences
[8:18] Study abroad as a valuable experience
[9:05] Specialized training for international options
[10:14] Rise in interest for college abroad
[11:10] Factors driving interest in EU colleges
[12:19] Safety and intellectual freedom
[12:53] Why European college might be a better fit
[13:22] When it's *not* a good fit
[13:59] Maturity and independence required
[15:00] Financial considerations of EU degrees
[15:53] Housing challenges in the Netherlands
[16:42] Knowing your kid’s resilience
[17:39] Academic differences in EU colleges
[18:08] Transparent EU admissions process
[19:00] Application pre-reads and reduced guesswork
[20:05] Grading systems and assessment style
[21:16] High stakes grading vs busywork
[21:45] Program rigidity and flexibility differences
[22:21] Mini-courses and short modules
[23:13] Importance of time management skills
[24:05] FAFSA and financial aid in Europe
[25:14] Merit scholarships for international students
[26:03] Risks of switching programs
[26:51] A costly time zone mistake
[27:34] Tracking deadlines for scholarships
[28:28] Disability accommodations in EU colleges
[29:24] When to start planning for college abroad
[30:32] APs, IBs, and test prep importance
[31:41] Visiting EU schools and virtual tours
[32:45] Better virtual tours than in the US
[33:43] International student resources
[34:46] The emotional impact on families
[35:20] Family transitions and multiple moves
[36:14] When transition is harder than expected
[37:07] Supporting your child emotionally
[38:01] Normalize the fear of a big move
[38:26] Where to find Karen Shopoff Rooff
[39:16] Show credits and closing

Sound Library

All the music was composed especially for the We’re Moving to Europe podcast by Sage Barton. Copyright 2025, Sage Barton.