Returning from abroad  

Once you're back in the United States

GRADE REPORTS

Upon successful completion of courses abroad, all credits and grades (where applicable) earned will be recorded by the MSU Office of the Registrar, and a grade report will be sent to your home address. MSU students will have the appropriate courses recorded on their regular transcripts. All other students wishing to have credits transferred to another institution must request that the MSU Office of the Registrar send a transcript. This is not done automatically.

To request a transcript, send a check or money order for $5.00 payable to MSU to:

Michigan State University
TRANSCRIPTS
East Lansing, Michigan 48824-0210

State your name, telephone number where you can be reached 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (EST), e-mail address, your student PID number or social security number, and your date of birth. Include the address where the transcript should be sent and verify all information with your written signature. Alternatively, you can order a transcript from the MSU Website.

Co-sponsored programs

Co-sponsored program are study abroad programs sponsored by an academic unit at MSU, implemented by a foreign host partner institution, and staffed by non-MSU faculty. Co-sponsored study abroad programs may include exchange programs, direct enrollment in a foreign university, and consortia or other provider programs.

If your program is co-sponsored, a “translation” of credit and grades for certain courses will be made upon your return. This translation of credits and grades is based on an MSU-agreed-upon standard. Check the MSU Registrar’s Website at to determine how your international grades will be converted into the MSU grade system.

A transcript from your host institution with the record of your academic performance will be sent directly to either the Office of Study Abroad or Office of the Registrar. It may take four to eight weeks from the time of receipt for the credit to appear on your MSU transcript. When you return to campus, check periodically with the OSA Program Coordinator and/or your academic adviser in your college to verify that your transcript is being updated correctly.

POST-TRAVEL HEALTH RECOMMENDATIONS

There are a few health issues you need to consider when returning from travel abroad:

• If you become ill within 12 months after traveling, make a medical appointment and inform your physician of the countries you visited while abroad.
• If you have been taking anti-malarial medication, continue doing so for the prescribed length of time after you return home.
• Schedule an appointment with a health care provider for a sexually transmitted disease check if you were sexually active while abroad.
• Remember that your study abroad accident and sickness insurance covers you only while you are abroad, so make sure you have adequate coverage in the United States.

CULTURE SHOCK REVISITED

As difficult as it is to adapt to an entirely new culture, it can be just as challenging to come back home after being away for any period of time. It is best to know what you might encounter in order to prepare for this adjustment period.

Expect to experience some measure of reverse culture shock . Reverse or re-entry shock can be defined as the unexpected confrontation with the familiar (R. Michael Paige). Remember that the world at home hasn’t stopped while you were gone. Upon your return home, you may find you aren’t the only one who has changed during your absence. Everyone and everything else will have changed too! Remember to take time to readjust slowly.

You’ll notice that you may think differently about the United States. You’ll spend time reflecting on the differences between the U.S. and your former host country, just as you did when you left. Friends and family may be interested in stories or photos for a while, but “really don’t understand.” It may be difficult to express your feelings in words. Remember that many people may have difficulty relating to what you are saying because it hasn’t been part of their experience.

Avoid experiencing anxiety about getting a job when your return home. Your study abroad experience can open employment doors for you, so be creative while abroad, ask for interviews by e-mail and promote the self-reliance and maturity your have gained through your experience. When you return, check the OSA Web site for when the “Unpacking your Study Abroad Experience” workshops are held. These workshops, sponsored by OSA and Career Services and Placement, help guide you on how to use your international experience as a résumé booster.