Major
Biological Sciences
Second Major
Psychology
Advisor
Michelle Carrara
Date
5-2023
Keywords
Study Abroad; Guidebook; Travel; Handbook; Resource
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 4.0 License.
Abstract
Every year thousands of students embark on a journey overseas to study abroad. This experience can be stressful for many and bring about a great deal of questions and uncertainties. The goal of this project is to create a resource for students to utilize before going abroad. A survey was sent out to University of Rhode Island (URI) students that went abroad Summer 2022, Fall 2022, and Spring 2023. Students that filled out the survey agreed to participation in an interview regarding their journeys abroad. Interview responses were then implemented as content within the guidebook. These students went to a wide array of countries creating an individual unique experience for each of them. Travel blogs were also researched and analyzed to provide insight from students outside of URI. Obtaining feedback from students who have previously gone abroad is important in providing a new resource from multiple students' perspectives that the University currently does not have. The guide will go through the sequence of steps leading to a journey abroad as well as resources that may be helpful while abroad. These steps will start from first applying with the University of Rhode Island to coming home and coping with symptoms of reverse culture shock. I anticipate that my guidebook will be available through the Office of International Education at URI and be a resource at predeparture orientations.