I feel there is a general agreement and recommendations on how much you should prepare when planning to go abroad. However, what happens after studying abroad? People who return from a long experience abroad can suffer from reverse culture shock. Essentially, reverse culture shock is when you are trying to adjust to being home, similar to what happens when you first arrive in a new country. Below are some ways to help you deal with coming back from your experience abroad.
1) Respond to a Reentry Assessment
Whether you had a positive or negative experience abroad, you need to answer surveys about your experience abroad. Institutions or program providers usually have a survey they send to students when they return. This allows them to make adjustments or improvements if necessary in their study abroad programs. Learning from experiences that were not perfect is the best way to revamp the program. I remember when I came back from my exchange program, I received a survey about this from my university. It was kind of long, but I was honest and reflected on what was good and what wasn’t.
2) Join an Alumni Network
Alumni networks allow you to stay connected to your cohort and even meet other participants from that program. If your institution or program provider does not have an alumni network for students who went abroad, take the initiative and see if you can start one. I wish my exchange program had a better alumni network. This is because I would have liked to have a space where I met previous participants and talked to others about their experiences in the program.
3) Become a Mentor
This could be part of the alumni network. It is commonly known that students who have gone abroad take every opportunity to talk about their experience. What better way to inspire other students than by becoming a mentor? Some students have never been abroad and might feel nervous. Having someone who went to a specific country or region might help them decide if they want to pursue it. You will know firsthand the do’s and don’ts.
You might even reflect on how your experience could have been better. Now that I am in graduate school, I am exploring where I want to end up with my career in the international education field. I have completed some informational interviews that are narrowing my interest. Finding people who graduated from my program and where they are after graduation is a great way to figure out my next step.
4) Incorporate Your Study Abroad Experience into Your Resume and Cover Letter
With this one, I am definitely speaking from my international educator background. When you’re returning from studying abroad, this is probably one of the last things on your mind, but it is important. Studying abroad lets you gain 21st-century career skills that can be transferred to a job. We live in a globalized world, where we are engaging with companies abroad and working with diverse populations. It is essential to know how to interact with people from different backgrounds.
5) Create a Blog or Vlog
If all of this is not enough, then create a blog or vlog to write or film about your experiences. You will reach other audiences who might not have the opportunity to speak to alumni who have gone abroad, and at least reading from others’ experiences can give some background on what their opportunity might be like. Personally, when I was applying to the Disney College Program, it was very helpful to watch videos from people who had gone through the application and the interview process.
Returning home after studying abroad can be disorientating. To prevent you getting into too much of a spin, try some of my recommendations above. Glad to be of assistance to my fellow students.
These are all great ideas for what to do after studying abroad. I love the idea of becoming a mentor. I know I’ve had a few that I will never forget in my life.
Thank you! Yes, mentors are great guides.
I think being a mentor would be such a great way to give back to a system that gave you so much! I love these ideas.
Glad you liked the article!
I wish I had studied abroad. My cousins did it and had the best experience.
Heather, I am sorry you missed out on studying abroad. Glad your cousins had a great experience.
I think an alumni network is a great idea. No one can truly understand an experience quite like another person who’s done it too.
I agree Kuntala! Hearing firsthand from someone who experienced it, can give a better insight on what it would be like.
I love this article! I studied abroad too and the lessons that I learned will stick with me forever!
Appreciate your kind words! Glad you had a great experience studying abroad.
These tips would really be helpful for students who have just finished studying abroad. I’m sure they wouldn’t really know what to do next after graduation.
That’s what I am hoping for, for this to be a resource for returnees. 🙂
Studying abroad is a great experience and it should definitely help when networking for jobs. Joining the groups and mentoring are also a good way to add to the experience.
I agree Melissa!
My daughter wanted to study abroad but never did. These are good tips.
Glad you found these tips helpful!
I never had the chance to study abroad, and it really would be an amazing experience. It is good to have a plan for afterwards.
Thank you for your comment Marysa! It is helpful to have a plan when you return from your experience abroad, unfortunately it is not something talked about it enough.
Thanks for your tips. It would have been really great to study abroad. It’s nice reading your post.
I appreciate your kind words, Richelle!
I think studying abroad is a wonderful experience that will help to be an open mind worker. It’s a skill that should definitely be mentioned!
I agree Catalina!
So many great tips & reminders 🙂 I love the vlog idea such a great way to preserve them
Thank you so much Romy! Glad you found these tips helpful. 🙂
This part of studying abroad isn’t talked about much. I hope people pay more attention to life after school and these tips will come in handy
I agree Louisa! I appreciate you found these tips helpful.
I really think studying abroad would be such an exciting experience. Great tips!
Lynndee, thank you for your comment! It is a wonderful experience.
I had always wanted to study abroad. This must have been an amazing experience.
Thank you for your comment, it definitely was!
I think having a blog writing about all your experiences help. It will definitely guide other people who want to visit that specific place. They will have an overview of the place.
Definitely! A blog can give others a glimpse of what it is to visit or live in a new place.
I needed these tips when I came back from my study abroad experience years ago!!! But i floundered for a bit until I decided to move abroad haha. Great article!
Nkem, I appreciate your comment so much! Hopefully this article can help others. Moving abroad sounds like a fun idea too. 🙂
These are some wonderful tips on what to do after studying abroad. Starting a blog would be brilliant
I am glad you found these tips useful, Mel!
What nice tips for studying abroad, I always want to but I don’t know where to start
Thank you for your comment. If you are still in school, check your university Study Abroad Office or Student Affairs.
Your post is very informative for people who studied abroad. Although I didn’t have a chance to do it myself, I made sure to make up for it. I was lucky enough to travel abroad to take part in student work experience program followed by moving and working abroad.