International Programs

Are you finding that coming home is more difficult than you anticipated or have you made the transition back with ease?

Many students find that while it's great to be reunited with loved ones and hanging out in all the old comfortable places, they're still feeling a little off-center and/or out of place. It could be that you're finding your friends and family can't relate to your experience abroad, or perhaps it's difficult to be back in a U.S. classroom. No doubt your campus may seem a tad boring after the excitement and novelty of Athens, Quito or Sydney. These feelings are quite normal. Re-entering your home culture can be just as difficult as adjusting to your host culture when you went abroad; and for some students it may be even more challenging.

Even if you aren't feeling the malaise of re-entry, you still may be trying to figure out how you can incorporate everything you've learned abroad into your life here. This handbook is designed to help you readapt to life in the United States and the OSU campus. It contains information on everything from surviving the perils of re-entry "shock" to working abroad and preparing your résumé for the future. It may help you categorize your re-entry needs.

The topics that will be discussed in this site fit into the following "re-entry topic areas" (not necessarily in this order). Feel free to rank them from 1-5 so you know what your needs are.

• Academic integration/engagement
• Social needs
• Career Implications
• Community Engagement
• Re-departure

We hope this guide gives you good ideas on how to have a successful transition back to a life in the U.S. and on the OSU campus, and how to continue your international journey and learning through activities here in the U.S. or through further education or sojourns abroad.