RESOURCES FOR RETURNEES

Welcome Back!

Congratulations on completing your studies abroad! The transition back to life at home can be difficult, but the Education Abroad office is here to support you.

Take advantage of the resources we have listed here or reach out to one of our professional staff or a peer advisor if you need additional support. We also encourage you to share your story with us by completing an Alumni Report. Your experiences can help other students who want to travel abroad.

Aspen photo by the lake

Share Your Story: Complete an Alumni Report

What is Cultural Adjustment?

After studying abroad, many students report feeling “out of place”, bored, restless, uncertain, reverse homesickness (missing the people, places, and culture of one’s host country), depressed, isolated, and negative or intolerant towards their home community.

These feelings are completely normal and are often called “reverse culture shock” (the psychological, emotional and cultural aspects of reentry) because they are very similar to what you might experience when interacting with a new culture for the first time.

Strategies for Re-Entry

It is important to remember that cultural adjustment is temporary. While simply recognizing and acknowledging these feelings can help a lot, there are many things you can do to adapt to life at home. Just to give a few examples, you can:

  • Think back to when you first arrived in your host country and how you adjusted to the new culture: You can use these same strategies to transition back to life at home.
  • Share your experience and inspire others: Talk to your family members or friends about your trip. You can also Complete an Alumni Report using the link at the top of this page. Your advice may help another student!
  • Contact Mines Education Abroad: We are here to support you! 
  • Stay in touch with friends from your host country: Find them on social media, give them a call, text, or even send a letter.
  • Attend an Education Abroad event: The Education Abroad Office often puts on events for returnees to meet and talk about their experiences. View our events calendar here
  • Get involved on campus: Join a club or sport and try something new!
  • Celebrate your host culture at home: Try out new recipes, look for restaurants, or celebrate holidays or traditions that remind you of your travels.
  • Plan your next adventure! – You do not have to travel across the world for new experiences. Research some of the places close to home that you have been meaning to visit and plan an excursion with family or friends.

Additional Resources

Coming home does not mean you have to stop interacting with your global community. There are plenty of opportunities to engage with people from all over the world at Mines! Check out our events schedule

For more resources, check out these articles:

As always, the staff at the Mines Education Abroad office are here for you. Feel free to stop by the office or contact one of our professional staff or a peer advisor if you need additional support.

Advice from other Mines Students:

“Get outside! Hike, bike, climb, or run somewhere in nature. Going abroad made me realize how many wonderful places there are to explore right in my backyard.”

– Jocelyn Johnson | Civil Engineering | University of Auckland | Fall 2019

“One of the things I missed most about being abroad was getting to know such a diverse group of people. The best strategy to help me with this feeling was meeting more people here! Reach out, become friends with your roommates, coworkers, lab partner, whoever it is. You don’t have to be in a different country to get to know interesting people.”

– Katherine Knudtsen | Chemical Engineering | Pontificia Universidad Católica Chile | Fall 2019

“Jumping back into normal life from after studying abroad was hard at first, because everything seemed so normal that it felt like the whole semester could have been a dream. The thing that helped me the most was staying in touch with my friends I met abroad, because they’re the ones who don’t ever get bored listening to your stories and reminiscing since they were there too.”

 – Sammie Inks | Chemical Engineering | University of Aberdeen | Fall 2018

Other Re-Entry Resources

How to transfer Courses from abroad

STEP 0: If you haven’t already, Read our Academics Abroad page. Many questions can likely be answered by taking a closer look at this information. 

STEP 1: Review your prior approval form (available under “documents” in your study abroad application). Make sure all the classes you took abroad are listed as “approved” on this from. If not, contact abroad@mines.edu to discuss how to get approval for these courses.

STEP 2: Request official transcripts from your host university and have it sent to the Education Abroad Office. You CANNOT provide transcripts to us – they must be sent directly from your host program. Once we receive your transcript, we will send your prior approval form and transcript to the registrar. Our mailing address is

Colorado School of Mines Office of Global Education
C/O Education Abroad
924 16th Street, Green Center 219
Golden, Colorado, USA 80401

STEP 3: Mines Education Abroad will send your transcript and prior approval form to the registrar. The registrar will post your credits within 1-2 weeks after they receive your transcript. Check your transcript to ensure all credits transferred properly. Email abroad@mines.edu if you have questions about your transfer credits.

Common Questions and Answers:

Q: What if I failed (received less than the equivalent of a “C” at Mines) a class abroad?

A: It will not appear on your Mines transcript. It will appear on your host university transcript, which may be requested by graduate programs. Employers very rarely request an original study abroad transcript.

Q: When will my credits be posted to my Mines Transcript?

A: 1-2 weeks after your host university sends your official transcript to Mines Education Abroad.

Q: My credits have not transferred back to Mines yet, but I need an official study abroad transcript to apply for a scholarship or other program?

A: Only your host university can issue an official transcript from your study abroad. Contact your host university program coordinator to get another copy of your transcript. An unofficial copy of your host transcript will also be saved under your “Documents” in your study abroad application, after it is sent to Mines.

 

If you still have questions about how to transfer your credits, please contact abroad@mines.edu so we can connect you with an advisor.

How to Market Your Experience

Whether you are interviewing for a job, applying to scholarships, or looking for your next adventure, it will be helpful to know how to articulate the lessons you learned while studying abroad. Our office can help you with this! Sign up for one of our workshops or browse the resources below for tips on communicating the value of your time abroad.

But first: Don’t forget to include study abroad on your resume!

In the education section, make sure to list the following:

Name of college/university attended while studying abroad
City and country
Dates of enrollment
Coursework and/or program of study

If you learned any skills abroad that directly relate to the job or internship you are applying for, be sure to list those in the “Skills” section of your resume as well.

Resources

Leveraging Global Experiences in Your Career: An online workshop about how to talk to employers about the value of study abroad, especially in a post-Covid-19 world.

10 Reasons Why Employers Love Graduates Who Have Studied Abroad

3 Steps to Showcase Study Abroad in Your Graduate School Application

Caught the travel bug?

Here’s a list of links to help you find your next adventure:

CONTACT US

Global Education
Green Center, Suite 219
924 16th Street
Colorado School of Mines
Golden, CO 80401 

Email
International Student and Scholar Services: isss@mines.edu
Education Abroad: abroad@mines.edu
International Admissions: admissions@mines.edu