Study Abroad Returnee Event
Attend a Study Abroad returnee event in the Fall or Spring. Details will be sent to you closer to the event date.
Event benefits
Reentry Adjustment and Reverse Culture Shock
The unsettled feeling that can accompany one’s return from abroad is what some refer to as “reverse culture shock” and is a very common reaction for students coming home from studying abroad. Of the people returning home, 85% have some kind of reentry experience, and of those, 15% have more serious difficulties adjusting.
Common symptoms
- Restlessness
- Rootlessness
- Boredom
- Depression
- Uncertainty
- Confusion about the future
- Wanting to be alone
- Reverse homesickness — missing the people, places, attitudes or lifestyle of your host country
- Changes in life goals and priorities
- Negativity or intolerance toward the United States, including American behavior, attitudes, customs and common social practices
Adjusting to reentry
If you’re having difficulty with your return, think back to the adjustments you made while you were abroad. The coping skills and strategies that were successful in helping you adjust to your overseas culture will be just as helpful in making the return home.
If you are experiencing major difficulty with reentry, seek help from Roo Wellness.
Market Your Study Abroad Experience
Studying abroad makes you marketable to employers.
- Transferable skills including communication, problem-solving and adaptability
- Ability to demonstrate cross-cultural competence and articulate lessons learned
Visit UMKC Career Services for more information.
List study abroad on your resume
- In the education section
- Name of college or university attended
- City and country
- Dates of enrollment
- Coursework or program of study
- Use the international and cross-cultural experience section to highlight an internship, part-time job or volunteer work completed abroad
- Use the skills or language section of your resume to list foreign languages and specify your language skill level — basic, intermediate or fluent
Present study abroad experience in your cover letter
- Introduce your Study Abroad experience in your opening statement
- Mention what program you studied and the organization where you interned
- Articulate clearly what you learned from the experience and how this will help you in the position for which you are applying
Present your Study Abroad experience in your interview
Refer to your study abroad experience when answering behavior-based questions such as explaining a challenging experience and how you handled the situation. Emphasize why you chose to study abroad and how you chose your program location.
Illustrate competencies employers seek
- Creatively solve problems by applying familiar concepts in unfamiliar situations
- Contribute to an ethnically diverse team
- Take personal risks and act independently
- Be flexible and adaptable to rapidly changing situations
