What to Expect While Abroad

They may not be traveling yet, but the journey has begun. At this point, the student is in control of their experience abroad. These upcoming moments are where they actively practice self-reliance.

Their orientation

Once overseas, the student will participate in an orientation to get them acclimated to their new surroundings. Only students are invited (families and supporters may not attend). Students will thrive best abroad when they take the first steps independently.

Their host university and classes

As an organization that respects Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) guidelines, federal law protects student records — even when courses are taken overseas. USAC cannot provide you with details on how the student is performing academically. That said, they can certainly tell you about their experiences with classes. As someone close to the student, you will intuitively know the best times to ask them how classes are going.

Things to note

• Some host universities offer “buddy” programs, which are organizations that offer visiting students a peer/colleague to help guide them through cultural norms. Details will be on the individual USAC Program Highlights pages.
• Host universities abroad may not be operating on the same schedule as U.S. American institutions. A timeline of each program is available on the Calendars pages.
• If the student is taking classes in another language, the coursework may feel more intense.