Return & Reconnect

Welcome back to Boston! We hope that you had the most wonderful journey but we know that returning can feel a bit strange. You might experience reverse culture shock, struggle to integrate what you learned into your existing life, and may even feel bored after your travels.

To help you smooth your transition back into life in Boston, we offer several ways for you to make connections, get involved, and put everything you learned abroad into practice.

Programming & Events

Welcome Back Dinner

Every semester we welcome back our returning students with a celebratory dinner. This event will be held within the first two weeks of the semester. Overall the event is casual with food, games, and a chance to reconnect with study abroad friends. You might even make a new friend that study abroad somewhere else.

Your study abroad advisor will reach out with more details and RSVP information closer to the event.

Professional Workshops

You have gained countless skills and stories from your time abroad and many of these can be added to your resume! Each semester we will host professional networking and workshop opportunity to learn how to leverage your study abroad experience for your career path or next steps. We team up with Suffolk’s Career Center to give you concrete steps to take and ideas for how to go abroad again.

Your study abroad advisor will reach out with more details and RSVP information closer to the event.

Our team is continuously working with several offices and groups on campus to bring even more professional workshops to the study abroad alumni community. Stay tuned for more information!

Two Suffolk Madrid students walk together while one points our something to the other.

Study Abroad Rambassadors Program

Calling all study abroad returnees! Have you spent a semester/academic year abroad, participated in a global travel seminar, spent a summer studying at a foreign destination, or even started your Suffolk experience overseas? Then you're invited to apply to the Study Abroad Rambassador Program (SARP).

The SARP is designed to connect students that have already studied abroad to future study abroad students so that they can share their experiences. We are looking for motivated returnees that are passionate about their time abroad and want to share that with others. This program will connect you to other students with similar experiences, grow your professional skills, allow for networking opportunities and give you the opportunity to make an impact on future study abroad students’ journeys!

By applying to participate as a Study Abroad Rambassador you'll:

  • Develop valuable professional skills in event planning, public speaking, advising, marketing and networking
  • Connect with other study abroad returnees that experienced a life changing time abroad just like you
  • Make a difference for future study abroad students and help them get started on their journey abroad

What do Study Abroad Rambassadors do?

Rambassadors participate in a number of events or activities throughout the semester that qualify for the program including:

  • Attend an info session to talk with fellow Rams
  • Do an Instagram takeover showcasing your time abroad
  • Write a blog post
  • Help out at study abroad events (like Global Trivia or International Education Week)
  • Meet and greet with future study abroad students during pre-departure orientation
  • Create reels for our Instagram or create Tik Toks
  • Lead a peer info session
  • Host your own event to help students going abroad
  • Do a video interview for our social media and website
  • Marketing and office support as needed throughout the semester

SARP Participation Requirements & Perks

To be an active member of SARP, you need to do three activities per semester. You'll receive:

  • A SARP T-shirt
  • Access to exclusive career building workshops
  • Networking opportunities

If you participate in seven or more activities in a semester, you'll receive additional bonus perks including:

  • A letter of recommendation
  • An invite to an exclusive end of semester thank you event

Apply to be a Study Abroad Rambassador

There are many ways to fill out the application! Your study abroad advisor will send it you via email but you can also check out our Instagram stories or read our blog to learn more about applying! The fall application is due by June 30 and spring application is due by January 5.

If you have any questions about the SARP, please email us.

Other Opportunities

Home Away From Home

During your time abroad, you might have had the opportunity to make friends that were local to your host country. This is one of the best ways to learn about the culture and get comfortable.

Suffolk University offers a program right here in Boston for a similar cultural exchange. Home Away From Home matches international students with students from the U.S. to provide an opportunity for students to share their cultures and get to know people from around the world.

This program provides international students with valuable information and the opportunity to meet and socialize with American students.

Career Integration & Scholarships

Did you catch the travel bug while abroad? Maybe you are even thinking about moving abroad in your future career!

Connect with Suffolk’s Career Center to learn about internships, scholarships, job opportunities and their GoinGlobal platform. GoinGlobal provides international students with U.S. city guides, job postings, cultural advice, and an H-1B visa directory. It also provides international city guides and information for students who plan to study or work abroad.

Or, schedule a meeting with a Study Abroad advisor to chat about how you can go abroad post-grad in ways like applying for grad school abroad, Fulbright or the Peace Corps.