Life After Study Abroad

Introduction

Perhaps you've been looking forward to study abroad for a long time, or maybe you just decided to study abroad a couple of months ago. Whatever the case, most students who study abroad remark that it was one of the highlights of their undergraduate studies. Many find that it changes their lives in profound ways. It may be that you'll finally achieve the level of foreign language fluency for which you've been striving for years. Maybe you'll form relationships that will lead your life in new directions. Maybe you'll discover an academic topic that will become the emphasis of your doctoral dissertation. Or maybe you'll find yourself navigating both physical and emotional geographies that you never thought you could explore on your own.

Right now, you can't be certain what might come of your overseas studies, but you can prepare yourself for this transformative experience. A key part of that preparation is to consider how your studies abroad might affect your career and your life plans. Most jobs and graduate programs require you to function in transnational contexts. You may find employment abroad, or you may be stationed overseas for employment or graduate study. If you remain in the U.S., you'll still find yourself constantly interfacing with colleagues across national boundaries. Your study abroad experience will provide you with relevant preparation for these challenges. Think about how to articulate this on your resume, and as you go overseas, be prepared to make contacts that can help you with your career plans.

Students often return from abroad only to begin scheming how they might get back overseas again as soon as possible. The "Take 5" Scholars Program and the fellowships for graduate studies are two avenues for accomplishing this goal. Other opportunities include the Peace Corps and similar international volunteer programs. Some of these opportunities have early application deadlines, and may require you to begin the process while you're overseas.

The Center for Study Abroad organizes a variety of programs to help study abroad returnees readjust to life back in Rochester. You can look forward to attending a "Welcome Back" reception, and to participating in a student-to-student "chat room" during your return semester. You can become a study abroad "peer adviser" and share your experiences with underclassmen who are interested in overseas study. If you'd like to get more involved, there are always opportunities to work in the Center for Study Abroad, to help organize future orientations, design bulletin boards, work on the UR There guide, or other projects.

In summary, don't wait until you return from overseas to consider how study abroad might impact your future.

Tips from the Career Center

UNIVERSITY OF
ROCHESTER
CAREER CENTER		 Meliora Hall Box 270028, Rochester, NY 14627
Phone: (585)275-2366 | Fax: (585) 461-3093
www.rochester.edu/careercenter

Before You Leave...
  • Clarify post-baccalaureate or summer plans, make contacts, and inform potential employers how they can contact you while you are away.
  • Schedule an appointment with a Career Counselor during the semester before you leave. Make sure you are familiar with the Career Center's website, including yoURCareerLink, our web driven recruiting and job posting database, so you can utilize it while you are abroad.
  • Ask Career Center Counselors about other programs and events that you can participate in while abroad.
  • If you are considering graduate school after graduation, determine what kind of test preparation will be required for standardized tests and when is the best time to take those tests.
  • Create a resume to take with you. Once you add new experiences, update this document, but always feel free to use this networking tool.


While you are abroad...

  • In most countries you will have access to the Internet. Use the Career Center Website to search Internship Listings, Full-time Job Postings, Recruiting Information, and keep up on what's new at the Career Center.
  • If you are working in an internship, make the most of your experience! It is strongly advised that you get recommendations from your supervisor(s) while you are there. Not only will you be less likely to forget to follow up when you return home, but your contributions will still be fresh in the recommender's mind. Also, you avoid the risk that the supervisor may not be in the same position or even with the same company after you leave.
  • If you are considering graduate school, visit the Career Center website for information and helpful links. Register for any admissions tests or preparation courses you wish to take when you return.
  • Develop a network in your host country. Collect contact information from businesses, including that may be of interest to you in your job search. Document your relationships via business card collection or e-mail mailing lists.
  • If you obtain a summer internship while abroad, consider applying for Reach Funding. Reach Funding is a small stipend from the Career Center for an unpaid or poorly paid career related internship. Applications are available after February 1st and can be emailed from abroad.

When you return...
  • Mail or email thank you notes and update letters to all of your contacts.
  • Update your resume with information about study abroad experience. Stop by the Career Center to have a counselor look it over and assist you in posting it in yoURCareerLink.
  • Schedule an appointment with a counselor, if you haven't already, so you can learn how to participate in on campus recruiting, maintain awareness of postings, and discuss your plans for the future!

 

Information About the "Take 5" Scholars Program

Many study abroad students are interested in participating in the "Take 5" Scholars program once they return from their study abroad experience. Click on the link below to learn more details.

http://www.rochester.edu/College/CCAS/TakeFive/

 

Information About Fellowships & Scholarships for Graduate Study

While you are abroad, investigate academic fellowships opportunities for international or domestic study, or teaching English abroad, after you graduate.  Many senior-year awards competitions, such as the Fulbright and Rhodes, have early fall deadlines, and application preparation should begin before the end of the junior year.  Click on the link below for more details.

http://www.rochester.edu/College/CCAS/fellowships/

Information About Pre-Med

If you are interested in medical, dental, optometry, osteopathy, physician assistant or veterinary school, please read the following information. Every year the University of Rochester has students who go abroad in the spring and successfully apply to the health professions school of their choosing. The key to pursuing an interest in the health professions while studying abroad is to familiarize yourself with the application process and deadlines before you go abroad. Advanced planning is key. Please be advised that you are expected to adhere to all listed deadlines.

The Health Professions Handbook, available on the health professions website sponsored by the College Center for Academic Support: http://www.rochester.edu/College/CCAS/healthprofessions.html, is an essential tool to assist you in the application process. The Handbook contains information on the type of test needed to apply, an overview of the timeline, the application service available for applicants, the Health Committee letter, and much more. A consideration that is especially important for students studying abroad relates to the Health Committee letter. It is possible to request a Health Committee letter while abroad in the spring. You will need to complete the Health Professions Questionnaire (HPQ) and submit it via email to a Health Professions adviser in the spring semester. The required meeting with a Health Professions adviser to review a submitted HPQ can be done over the phone if necessary when the student returns to the United States.

Click here to read a statement on study abroad from the UR School of Medicine and Dentistry: http://www.rochester.edu/College/abroad/students/pre-med.html

There are two Health Professions advisers available to answer your questions, Scott MacPhail (smacphai@mail.rochester.edu) and Kate Sgabellone (ksgabell@mail.rochester.edu)