5 Adjustments Students Face While Studying Abroad

Culture Shock

When I meet students in their home countries, I am always amazed by their confidence, sense of adventure and willingness to step outside their comfort zone by studying abroad. I often imagine their experiences when they arrive at their university and encounter unfamiliar norms and behaviors. I've discussed this topic with students over the years and recently conducted a survey to identify the most common adjustment issues. Though each student's experience is different, there are a number of common themes that I outline below:

Academics

Students attending smaller colleges say they had to adjust their study habits to be prepared for frequent quizzes to measure their real-time learning versus larger and less frequent exams in their home countries. For many, working with other students on group projects was a new experience that sometimes felt competitive (negative) and other times felt collaborative (positive).

The classroom atmosphere was another common adjustment, with many students indicating surprise by how freely students share their opinions, ask questions and feel comfortable presenting observations that may differ from the professor's teachings. Some find this uncomfortable if they came from an environment that emphasized knowledge transmission from the teacher and the expectation that students master material for the purpose of earning a high exam result.

US-Centric Thinking

Americans' general lack of knowledge about other countries and cultures surprises students. Some mention that their American peers display a sense of superiority, "...many Americans really think of their country as being the superior one and anything outside of the US is like a museum.” Students feel that Americans tend to have unsophisticated and stereotypical views of cultures that are not familiar.

Unspoken Social Norms

Students recount instances of confusion about social interactions. Things like personal space (Americans instinctively maintain physical distance in most social encounters), superficial greetings (Americans frequently inquire about how someone is, but don't expect that details will be provided), and lack of formality (many professors may invite students to address them by their first name) are described as uncomfortable.

There are significant differences in the way students experience social aspects of US university life, with one student saying “It can be overwhelming when everyone is so nice and wants to be involved in other's life" while another student said “People are wary about interacting with strangers."

In addition, international students note that Americans generally do not reach out to try to make them feel welcome, as they would to a foreigner traveling in their own country. This difference in hospitality is disappointing to many international students who experience Americans traveling in their home country as friendly, but when they encounter Americans in the US, they feel indifference.

Self vs. Group

The United States is a very individualistic and achievement-oriented society which can be a shock for students from cultures which value decision-making that is based on what is best for a community or group. One student said “The American emphasis on individuality sometimes makes it challenging for me to navigate interactions that prioritize self-expression and personal aspirations.” Other students struggle to find a balance between what an American would consider self-advocacy and what they feel is arrogance or boastfulness.

Feeling Settled

While most students gradually adapt to the obvious and subtle differences in communication, relationships, etc., some acknowledge that full assimilation can be difficult “...no matter how much time you spend here, how much you learn about Americans and their culture...full assimilation is a myth." She said that she originally wanted to blend in, but has decided that "...finding that balance between US and home culture..." is the best approach.

Advice for Counselors

It's important to help students prepare for a range of culture shock experiences. Discussing these situations with your students will help them anticipate some of the challenges they may encounter. Involving students currently enrolled US students can also be helpful, as their first-hand anecdotes will bring credibility to the conversation. Finally, emphasizing that there is no “normal” amount of time that it takes to feel at home in a new culture, so it's important not to compare oneself to any perception of how others are doing.