It is not always easy to leave your new home. Use these ideas to help you manage the return—and enjoy your time abroad even more.
Preparing to return
- Collect contact information for your new family, friends, and professors
- Gather your favorite music, recipes, etc., to bring back home
- Write a letter to your future self
- Keep a journal to create treasured memories for the rest of your life
- Complete our perspective exercise (pdf) and “while you were away” exercise (pdf), which might help you recognize how you have changed and help you relate your experience to others
Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) denial
If you received financial aid, you will likely receive a notification you failed to meet Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) for your semester abroad. Here is what to do if you receive an SAP denial notice:
- 1 term abroad: After receiving an SAP denial notice, email sapappeal@wsu.edu to alert them to the fact that you were on an education abroad program
- 2 or more consecutive terms abroad: After receiving an SAP denial notice, email sapappeal@wsu.edu to alert them to the fact that you were on an education abroad program and include a copy or image of an official or unofficial transcript. Contact Global Learning for more information
- Faculty-led participants: If your WSU professor has not posted grades, you may need to contact the organizing department
Global Cougs skills and careers packet
The Global Cougs Skills and Careers Packet is chock-full of useful information. Use it to help:
- Identify skills you gained abroad
- Highlight international experience in resumes, cover letters, and interviews
- Find international jobs
- Readjust to life in the United States
- Answer the surprisingly difficult question “So how was it?”
Take the education abroad capstone class
UNIV 491.2, Education Abroad Capstone, helps you integrate your experience abroad into your experience at WSU, as well as recognize and build on skills gained abroad.
1 credit; fall and spring semesters
Email Global Learning for more information or to enroll.
Go abroad again
You can study, intern, research, or volunteer abroad for credit. Sign up for a Global Cougs 101 session to refresh your memory on all the different options.
You may also apply for graduate school abroad, teach English, or even find a full-time job abroad. Students on the Pullman campus can visit the Academic Success and Career Center for information on how to get started.
You might also consider a Fulbright grant. Your international experience can be used to prepare yourself to apply for this prestigious grant.
Get involved
You do not have to leave your international experience behind now that you are back on campus. Get involved in international clubs and volunteer opportunities to share your experience and pay it forward.