Returned Students
You’ve returned from your study abroad experience! Congratulations on completing this incredible life-changing opportunity! What’s next?
Now is your chance to reflect upon your experience and settle back into life in the United States. What changes do you see in your environment now that you have an outside perspective? How have you changed by studying abroad?
Please read below for tips on how you can get the most out of your recently completed education abroad program, including a link to apply for our Global Ambassador Program.
Share your adventures abroad by entering our Photo and Video Competition!
This is a wonderful way to showcase your Clayton State spirit and your worldly adventures. Contestant’s photos selected by the committee are showcased on social media, in study abroad marketing, and are displayed in the James M. Baker University for the year for all to see.
We have multiple categories and cool prizes for the winners!
The Global Ambassador Program helps to strengthen your resume by providing service-learning opportunities with the Study Abroad Office by connecting with and promoting study abroad programs to Clayton State peers on campus, attendance to the Lessons From Abroad Conference with the Study Abroad Office, working with international students and more!
The Georgia Lessons From Abroad Conference is geared for students returning from their study abroad experience. This conference is open to all students who have attended a program abroad. It is a great way to connect and share your abroad experiences, insights into your host country, or if you are seeking new ways to study, travel, or work abroad again, this conference offers a wonderful comprehension into what’s next for returnees.
The Study Abroad Office has compiled a handbook for returning students to help them unpack their study abroad experience. This handbook breaks down the following sections: the re-entry process, reverse culture shock, unpacking, reflecting, how to utilize NACE’s career competencies, transferrable skills, depth and details, constructing your resume, additional resources and more!
This handbook is provided to students from the Study Abroad Office upon their return from the study abroad experience.
The Study Abroad Office has built a Professional Development video and resource series to help walk returning students through the process of applying their study abroad experience to their professional development goals. Our office hopes that students are able to see the long-term investment that a study abroad opportunity can assist students with their future pursuits. The professional development series covers the following: resumes, cover letters, interview questions, crafting an elevator pitch, a free resume template and more!
This series is made available to students once they have returned from their overseas program.
Let us know about your study abroad program experience! Students provide feedback about their study abroad program via the program evaluation that is emailed out to students upon their return. This is a way to share important feedback with our office to let us know how the programs are doing and what we can improve upon in the future.
If you would like to talk with someone about settling back into life in the United States, don’t hesitate to stop by the Study Abroad Office (SAO) or set up a virtual appointment to talk to one of our staff members.
The SAO is located at the…
James M. Baker University Center (Main Campus)
Suite 204 on Main Street
Morrow, GA 30260
StudyAbroad@clayton.edu
Now that you have returned from going abroad, are you trying to figure out ways to travel again? Below you will find links to information about additional opportunities to go abroad after graduating from Clayton State, or during a semester break.
Don’t forget that you can study abroad more than once through the Clayton State Study Abroad Office!
The resources below can help you connect and discover ways to process your experiences abroad. Please visit the links for access to tools designed to help students return home and deal with reverse-culture shock.
- How to Deal with Reverse-Culture Shock (Start at Module 2.3): This website offers valuable resources for returned students to process their transition.
It is important for
students to be aware of reverse-culture shock, and the information on this website is a great place to start. In addition, pay attention to the top ten lists provided that explain some of the emotions you might be feeling and offer some suggestions for coping with them. - Relationships, Roots, and Unpacking: A great article about transitioning home after a meaningful experience abroad.
- Reverse-Culture Shock: This study abroad handbook provides great information about re-entry into your home country and dealing with the different stages of returning.
- A Toolkit for Returned Students: This toolkit provides important information about the re-entry process, including the emotional aspects, social actions, and academic advice.
Book Resource: Beyond Guilt Trips: Mindful Travel in an Unequal World by Anu Taranath. In Beyond Guilt Trips: Mindful Travel in an Unequal World, storyteller Anu Taranath begins at home, unpacking our baggage about who we are, where we come from, and how much we have. She takes us on a journey through engaging personal travel stories and thought-provoking questions, providing us with tools to grapple with our discomfort and navigate differences with accountability and connection. Yes, travel! But be mindful. Be present.
Our office has partnered with the Clayton State Library to offer this book as an e-book resource which is accessible to all online. Visit the E-Book Library to access Beyond Guilt Trips: Mindful Travel in an Unequal World here.