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For Advisors
Students are asked to prepare their plans in consultation with their academic advisors. Below are the phases where you are important to their journey.
Advisors and peers are the primary sources of information and inspiration for students who choose to study abroad.
Exploration phase
Engage advisees early and often with the opportunities and benefits of studying abroad, either on a short-term summer program or a semester or year-long program. GEO offers AMP sessions, a Study Abroad Fair in the fall, and special events that you can encourage your advisees to attend.
Address myths with facts
Data show that myths about study abroad deter students from seeking it out.
- The number one misperceptions are costs and financing. Beloit College strives to make study abroad affordable for all students. See facts on our Costs & Aid page.
- Learn more about other common myths and their real facts.
Share the career benefits of study abroad
Several studies suggest that studying abroad boosts the careers of our graduates. The 2017 study, Gaining an Employment Edge: The Impact of Study Abroad, shows the following benefits:
- An overall positive impact on the development of 21st century job skills
- Expanded career possibilities
- Long-term impacts on progression and promotion
- Long-term effects job offers and skills; short-term impacts teamwork skills
- Greater impacts with less-familiar destinations
- Student intentionality contributes to better skill development
Consider sharing the Study Abroad for your Career brochure, created by GEO Peer Mentors.
Help student athletes study abroad
The three points to discuss with student athletes are:
- Stay for the season. There are a range of programs whose schedules do not conflict with the playing season for all sports, including winter sports. Japan, New Zealand, Chile and Germany, for example, start the spring semester late.
- Stay strong while abroad. Select a host university that has strong sports facilities and intramural teams
- Stay connected while abroad. Team identity is important, as is mentoring younger players. Students can stay connected through the team apps, posting workouts, sharing their progress, and keeping track of teammates.
Connect study abroad to your department & school
Use the Program Finder tool to search for programs within your majors.
Incorporate study abroad options within your department’s advising, website, and outreach.
Preparation Phase
Once students meet with GEO to identify study options for their goals, they are asked to discuss the details with their advisor(s).
- Discuss courses students wish to take abroad. Look at course descriptions, assessments and credit values, if available, on the websites of host institutions that GEO has recommended to your advisee.
- Assess credit values. Students must take a minimum of 3 and maximum of 5 Beloit Units abroad. Conversion tables used for converting foreign credit systems: ISEP, Beloit Partners.
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Provide a recommendation. The recommendation gives important insight into the student’s preparation and any needs for support. Please be constructive.
- Students will request an electronic invitation from the application system.
- View the sample questions on the recommendation
Abroad and Return Phases
- Stay in communication. Check in on your advisees over email while they are abroad. Student growth abroad is boosted by interactive reflection and mentorship from trusted advisors.
- Keep advisees engaged. Consider having students join your classes via Zoom to provide the local perspective on the topic from abroad.
- Understand re-entry adjustment. When students return from abroad, they experience what is referred to as re-entry adjustment, or “reverse culture shock.” This can show up in many ways, but students do best when they take the time to understand their changes and take some action to integrate their experience.