At NYU, we strongly believe that your study away experience shouldn't end when you get back from your program. NYU’s Office of Global Programs organizes many things to keep your international experience alive once you've returned. Here are some highlights:
Global Ambassadors (GA) are students who have studied away and returned to campus. GAs are responsible for working with the prospective and newly admitted NYU Study Away students. As a GA you would work closely with the NYU Site Representative in NY to make sure prospective and incoming students get the student perspective on the study away experience by speaking at recruitment events, helping prepare content like packing tips, and getting students excited through events and social media.
Global Ambassadors are involved in a range of projects, including organizing and attending study abroad recruitment events, calling recently admitted students and answer email inquiries about their program. For more information about current activities and to sign up, please go to NYU Global Ambassadors.
NYU’s Wasserman Career Center has many resources that can help you showcase your international experience on your resume and in job interviews. They can also help you look for internship and career opportunities available in which you can productively integrate your experience abroad into your professional life. Definitely explore the Global Career Resources section!
Many students study away more than once during their undergraduate career. You may want to study away for another semester at another of our academic centers, participate in an international exchange or attend a summer or intersession program. To find out more, please see our website or sign-up for a general information session.
Coming back home can be difficult--sometimes even more difficult than going abroad. Now that you're back you might notice some things that were once familiar have become foreign. Hearing new songs on the radio, new fashion trends, new slang, etc. can trigger "reverse culture shock." Don't ignore these sentiments and know that they are completely normal. Look out for the following:
"Reverse homesickness." This happens when students deeply miss their abroad friends, international host families, and the city where they lived during the study abroad experience.
"Relationships have changed." When students return home, they may experience a change in the relationships that they had with their family and/or friends. Many students expect that everything will be exactly the same when they return home, neglecting that much can change in six months.
"You can’t explain." Some friends and family will be extremely open to hearing stories and seeing pictures, yet students returning from abroad often find it frustratingly difficult to put their experience into words, especially if the friends and/or family members in question have not traveled much.
"People misunderstand." Accidentally using a foreign language, wearing a new hairstyle or new clothing, etc. may be seen as showing off, whereas to the returning student, these behaviors are completely normal.
"Feelings of alienation." When students return from abroad, many develop new dislikes for aspects of their home country. Many students become hypercritical and constantly reminisce about how things in their study abroad site were much better than they are in this country.
"Boredom." Students return from a semester of adventure and excitement, where each day brought a new challenge and learning opportunity. Many students return to their “old routine” with their family and friends and are disillusioned with how uninteresting life can feel in their home country.
Should you strongly experience any of the situations above, please contact the NYU Wellness Exchange. They offer a private, 24/7 hotline that puts you in touch with professionals, who can help you address day-to-day challenges as well as most other health-related concerns. The Wellness Exchange hotline can be reached at (212) 443-9999.
The NYU Registrar’s office requires you, as the student, to request your official transcript (our office is NOT able to do this on your behalf). Once your final grades have been posted, visit the “Official Transcripts” section of the NYU Registrar’s website to learn how to request your transcript.
In addition to events organized by our office, there are many events around NYU as well as throughout NYC that may help you stay connected to your international experience.
