Returning Students

Education Abroad Program Evaluation

Returning study abroad students must complete an evaluation before their education abroad grades will be sent to the Registrar. A link to the evaluation will be sent out to returning students by the Office of International Education soon after their program end date.

Re-entry

Re-entry is the process of readjustment to your home culture and is often referred to as "reverse culture shock." At first, you may be very pleased, even euphoric, to be back in your home country, and others will be equally delighted to have you back. After people express their pleasure at seeing you again and listen politely to your stories for a few minutes, you may realize suddenly that they are not particularly interested in what happened to you and would much rather talk about their own affairs.

This may prompt feelings of irritation with others and impatience with your own inability to do things as well or as quickly as you had hoped. Resentment, loneliness, disorientation, and even a sense of helplessness may pervade your emotions. Just as you overcame culture shock and learned to adjust to life abroad, you will also need to give yourself time to re-adjust to life at home. You will also need to find ways to utilize your new maturity, independence, language and cross-cultural skills.

One of the best ways to combat "re-entry shock" is to become involved in international or cross-cultural groups or activities. Below are some suggestions.

Re-entry Conference

Bentley collaborates with other Boston-area colleges to sponsor a conference for students returning from abroad. This conference allows education abroad returnees to connect with other returned students and explore topics such as reverse culture shock, internationalizing your resume and interviewing skills, going abroad again, and international opportunities throughout the region. This year's conference will take place on Saturday, November 12, 2011 at Suffolk University.

Bentley Organizations and Activities

Education Abroad Peer Adviser Program

International Peer Adviser
The Center for International Students and Scholars at Bentley University services approximately 500 international students and scholars with 100 new students coming each year. Selected Bentley University undergraduates and graduates may serve as International Peer Advisers (IPAs). IPAs are matched with five-to-10 freshman, transfer or graduate students and work with them over the course of the academic year to help facilitate their adjustment to Bentley University and American life. For more information, contact the Center for International Students and Scholars, (781.891.2829).

International Student Association
Open to all Bentley students, this club has been organized to provide an opportunity for communication and friendship between international and domestic students in order to create an exchange among all Bentley students and to enrich campus life with different ideas and activities. For more information, contact the Center for International Students and Scholars (781.891.2829).

International Buddy Network
The International Buddy Network (IBN) helps incoming international exchange students with the transition into the U.S. culture and into the Bentley community. It also acts as a support system for those returning from education abroad programs to help deal with re-entry shock and provide a forum for discussion of experiences from abroad. IBN also provides an opportunity for the Bentley community at-large to learn first-hand about other cultures in an emerging global marketplace.

Center for Languages and International Collaboration (CLIC)
Keep your newly-acquired language skills alive - and learn more! The Center for Languages and International Collaboration offers foreign language tutors, multimedia and online language instruction, international broadcasts, and more.

Festival of Colors
The Festival of Colors is an event hosted by the International Student Association and designed to introduce the Bentley community to the various countries and cultures that are home to our international students. Returning study abroad students are encouraged to join in and represent their home country or the country where they studied. For more information, contact the Center for International Students and Scholars (781.891.2829).

Student Organizations
Bentley Asian Students' Association, Bentley Association of Chinese Students, Cape Verdean Student Association, South Asian Student Association, International Business Association, International Club, Bentley Model United Nations, La Cultura Latina, and more. For more information, contact Student Life at 781.891.2360.

Diversity Affairs Board
The Diversity Affairs Board (DAB) operates as a function of Bentley's Student Government Association and works to promote diversity awareness on campus. Their primary goal is to bridge the gaps of communication among such a diverse community as Bentley. The DAB emphasizes having a membership that is representative of the entire Bentley student body so as to aid in promoting the importance of experiencing the benefits of a diverse community. For more information, contact Student Life at 781.891.2360.

First Year Seminar Facilitator
Bring your new international outlook and familiar Bentley ideals to first year students by teaching as a First-Year Seminar facilitator. Students are joined with a faculty or staff member to teach this once a week course for the fall semester. The objective of the course is to give first year students the skills to grow and take advantage of what college has to offer them. Facilitators need to have a 2.5, be able to commit to several full-day training sessions and weekly classroom time. Contact the Office of Academic Services in Morison 200 for details and an application.

Orientation Leader
Spend the end of your summer welcoming new first year students to Bentley and make a difference helping both international and domestic students adjust to college life and make new friends. For more information contact Student Life at 781.891.2360.

Bentley Ambassador
Bentley Ambassadors have the privilege of introducing Bentley University to high school students investigating their college/university options. Through campus tours, given daily, ambassadors show prospective students all that Bentley University can offer students towards education, careers, social life, personal interests and opportunities such as study abroad. For more information and an application, contact the Admission Office at 781.891.2244.

Service-Learning
Service-Learning projects enable students to gain valuable career experience while contributing to important community interests. Everyone involved benefits - community organizations profit from students' developing expertise and students add skill and experience to their resumes. For more information, contact the Service-Learning Center in Morison 101.

International Education Week / CultureFest
International Education Week / CultureFest is a national event held each year in mid to late November. Offices and organizations throughout Bentley come together to promote awareness and understanding of people and cultures from around the world through events and presentations. Contact the Office of International Education or Student Life for more information.

International Careers

Office of Career Services

Office of Career Services International Job Search Tips for Interning and Working Abroad

Catalogue of books about international careers
Impact Publications

International careers
StudyAbroad.com
http://www.culturalvistas.org/

International graduate school

http://www.foreignmba.com
http://www.gspia.pitt.edu/

Transition Abroad Magazine

Transitions Abroad magazine

Short-term work abroad site
Bunac.org
CIEE.org
Overseasjobs.com
GoAbroad.com
www.interexchange.org

Listing of volunteer-abroad opportunities
http://umabroad.umn.edu/
Interaction.org