Welcome!
Penn State provides a range of programs and services aimed at promoting well-being essential for thriving in a complex global environment.
While pursuing education abroad presents immense potential for personal growth and development, acclimating to a different country (and an unfamiliar academic setting in that country) can be a complex experience, filled with both exciting and challenging moments.
Unlock Your Adventure
Studying abroad can be a transformative experience. Some of the benefits of studying abroad that extend beyond the classroom:
- Cultural Immersion: Experience a new culture, and perspectives firsthand. Studying abroad is your ticket to becoming a global citizen. During this experience, you will absorb diverse cultures, including local customs, traditions, and daily life. This exposure fosters cultural awareness and cultivates an appreciation for diversity.
- Language Acquisition: Engaging in conversations with native speakers is unparalleled for advancing your linguistic skills. Soon enough, you’ll find yourself adeptly using colloquial terms and joking in jargon before you know it.
- Level Up Your Life Skills: Living abroad is the ultimate life hack. You'll be pushed out of your comfort zone and develop resilience, adaptability, and problem-solving skills. Navigating new environments builds confidence and self-reliance.
- See the Big Picture: Studying abroad broadens your worldview. You’ll gain insights into global issues, politics, and economics. Exposure to different perspectives encourages critical thinking and empathy.
- Make Global Friends: Networking opportunities. Studying abroad provides a unique opportunity to build an international network by cultivating genuine friendships. These connections may even open doors to valuable career opportunities.
- Academic Excellence: Access world-class education and unique academic programs not available at home. Studying under renowned professors as well as accessing specialized programs, cutting-edge research, and unique courses can enhance your academic experience.
- Give Your Resume Some Jet Fuel: In a sea of graduates, your international experience will shine like a beacon to employers looking for someone who’s seen and done more. Studying abroad demonstrates adaptability, cultural competence, and a willingness to learn.
- Find Yourself: Sometimes you need to get lost in a foreign place to find out what you’re really about. Studying abroad gives you the space to figure out your next big move. You’ll gain clarity about your goals, values, and aspirations.
- Adventure and Fun: Travel opportunities. When your campus is a hop, a skip, and a jump from uncharted territories, every weekend can turn into an epic travel vlog episode.
A Common Paradox
Common Factors Influencing Adjustment
The study abroad experience will be unique for everyone. Adjustment to a new environment is different for everyone. Adjusting for some will be easier than for others, and is influenced by resilience and some other adjustment factors.
When international students move to a new country for their studies, they encounter a process of cultural adjustment (acculturation). This transition involves adapting to a different cultural context, academic environment, and social norms.
Here are some elements that play a role in adjustment to a new culture:
- Language and Communication: Language proficiency plays a crucial role because students must adapt to the language spoken in their host country. Communication styles, humor, and nonverbal cues vary across cultures.
- Culture Shock & Homesickness: Initially, students may experience culture shock, which is a feeling of disorientation and anxiety due to unfamiliar surroundings. Symptoms of culture shock include homesickness, frustration, confusion, and even physical symptoms like fatigue or low appetite.
- Unfamiliar University Setting & Academic Expectations: Educational practices differ globally. Students may encounter new teaching methods, assessment formats, and expectations. Understanding academic integrity, citation norms, and plagiarism prevention is essential.
- Stereotypes & Discrimination & Cultural Awareness: Being an international student can sometimes feel like being on the outside looking in. You’re navigating a new culture, language, and social norms. People might not always get where you’re coming from, and stereotypes can creep in. Embrace the adventure of navigating a new culture, language, and social norms. Developing cultural competence involves learning about local customs, traditions, and holidays. Being open-minded, respectful, and curious helps bridge cultural gaps. Celebrate the uniqueness of ethnic symbols, including attire and markings. Seek support from multicultural centers, seek support at CAPS and report incidents if necessary.
- Financial Pressure: International students face a unique set of financial challenges that can affect not only their educational experience but also their personal well-being and future career choices. Managing finances as an international student involves navigating a complex landscape, tuition fees, and living expenses, and stringent visa regulations that limit employment opportunities. Because of substantial tuition and room and housing costs, many international students feel extra pressure to excel academically and may feel they must achieve high grades and academic success to justify the investment in their education and to maintain scholarships or financial aid they receive.
- Mental Health and Well-Being: Coping with stress, managing time, and maintaining mental health are essential aspects of well-being and student success. Accessing healthcare services and understanding insurance policies are critical. Studying abroad is a journey filled with highs and lows, much like an emotional rollercoaster. Missing home, missing family and friends, and missing out on cultural festivities can weigh heavily on the heart. When these feelings are mixed with the pressures of academics, social adjustments, cultural differences, and financial concerns, it’s not uncommon for students to experience feelings of loneliness, overwhelming stress, anxiety, and even depression. It’s crucial to remember that these emotions are part of the shared human experience, especially among those studying abroad. You’re not alone in this. There’s a whole community ready to support you.
| Talking to a Friend | Both | Talking to a Mental Health Professional |
| Informal setting | Part of your support system | Confidential |
| Shared experiences | Enhances self-confidence and self-worth | Qualified to address mental health concerns |
| Expecting a favor in return | Prevents loneliness | Non-judgmental |
| Advice-giving | Helps regulate emotions and stress | Not advice-based, helps you find your own answer |
| Undivided attention |
While these experiences may feel challenging in addition to the rigor of academics, over time, students learn to cope with these feelings and adjust to their new environment.
Hardships often prepare ordinary people for an extraordinary destiny.
You Can Do This
International students face a multifaceted journey that involves academic, social, and emotional adjustments. While it can be challenging, it also offers incredible opportunities for personal growth and cross-cultural learning.
Remember, college isn’t just about acing exams, it’s about growing roots and spreading wings. Studying abroad is like turbo-charging your growth as you delve into a new culture, master a new language, and welcome the myriad of experiences and adventures that await you.
