Don’t let what happened abroad stay abroad. Continue on the journey you started overseas and build upon your study abroad experience to help catapult you to your next adventure. The challenges you overcame, the goals you accomplished, and the people and places you encountered along the way all have relevance to your future study, career, and life experiences. Consider how you can use what you learned abroad in your academic studies or career.
Your study abroad experience is just a new beginning. Where will it take you next?
IAP offers several opportunities for you to continue building on your international experience:
Global Café
Join us at Global Cafe, a monthly informal gathering of students over drinks and snacks. Drop by any time during cafe hours for casual conversation. Bring a friend, make a new friend, practice a language, and build connections around the world. Global Café is sponsored by various campus units, including IAP.
International Trivia Night
Do you know long it took to complete the Taj Mahal? What about how old Queen Elizabeth II is? Brush up on your global knowledge and tap into some of those facts you’ve learned in the classroom or abroad! Join your friends and form a team for an international theme trivia night. Meet up with fellow returnees, swap stories, and vie for some amazing trivia prizes. This event is free and open to everyone! Watch IAP’s Facebook page for details.
Returned Student Profiles
Share your experiences abroad and help us showcase the diversity of IAP study abroad programs and the experiences UW-Madison students have. Filling out a profile is a great way for you to reflect on your time abroad and articulate your experience. Your Returned Student Profile will also become a resource for other students seeking your peer perspective. You may find examples of Returned Student Profiles within the Student Voices section of our individual program webpages. Submit your profile under the Share My Experience tab of your MyStudyAbroad account.
Here are more ideas to help you expand upon your international experience through academics, service, and professional development, within the UW-Madison community and beyond:
Badger Bridge
This professional network is an exclusive place where UW-Madison alumni and students can come together to offer support in achieving career goals and exploring professional opportunities.
BRIDGE
The BRIDGE international friendship program connects U.S. students with international students during their first year to assist with the initial adjustment to the university and to the new culture.
Centro Hispano
Centro Hispano works to improve the quality of life for Latinos and others living in Dane County by empowering youth, strengthening families, and engaging the community.
Food and Film
Seek out the superb international cuisine that Madison has to offer. State Street alone could provide an around the world food culture experience. Explore campus and community foreign film showings.
Fulbright Opportunities
U.S. Student Fulbright Program is designed to give recent B.S./B.A. graduates, master’s and doctoral candidates, and young professionals and artists opportunities for personal development and international experience through programs and projects in a foreign country.
GUTS Conversational English Tutoring
Help international students improve their English skills. Be a part of arranged conversational opportunities for learners of languages other than English.
Hostelling International – Madison
Serve as an ambassador to the Madison area.
Institute for Regional and International Studies (IRIS)
The Regional and International Studies Advising Office is a cross-campus advising service for students interested in exploring international opportunities available at UW-Madison. They offer advising for student who wish to declare an area studies certificate or major, participate in an international internship, explore study abroad options, seek international career advice, or apply for international fellowships or grants.
International Directions Advising
The Language Institute’s International Directions Advisor offers academic and career advising to students interested in languages and international studies. Visit their advising website for more information.
International Internship Program (IIP)
The International Internship Program provides advising for undergraduate students interested in international internships. Visit their website for more information.
International Student Services
Now that you’ve had the international student experience, become a local connection for international students attending UW-Madison.
Language Conversation Tables
Continue the language skills you’ve acquired by speaking with other students and native speakers.
Language Institute
Drawing on the wealth of UW-Madison departments, centers and programs, the Language Institute promotes collaboration for research, education and community outreach in languages, literatures and cultures. Visit the Languages at UW-Madison website for opportunities to take your language learning beyond the classroom.
Language Lab
Audiovisual materials for over 100 foreign languages and other Letters & Science courses are available in the Media Library.
Libraries
Campus libraries have plentiful international and foreign-language books, newspapers, and media items.
Literacy Network
Opportunities to serve as an English as a Second Language tutor here in Dane County.
Madison Friends of International Students (MFIS)
MFIS connects Madison-area international university and college students, scholars, and any accompanying family with local residents to provide support and assistance, as well as to foster cultural exchange, global goodwill, and friendships around the world.
Morgridge Center for Public Service
National and International service opportunities.
Network, Network, Network!
Build a network through connections, join a professional network, or build your experience through a professional international experience. Use LinkedIn to connect to peers or international organizations.
Peace Corps
Visit with the UW-Madison Peace Corps Office to learn about service opportunities after graduation, or find them at campus and community events.
Study Abroad Returnee Conferences
Search the internet for a study abroad returnee conference near or far. There have previously been Lessons from Abroad conferences in Chicago and Minneapolis for the Midwest area.
Submit Articles and Photos for Publication
IAP Photo Contest
Badger Herald
Daily Cardinal
Matador Creators Community
Journal of Undergraduate International Studies (JUIS)
Souvenirs Magazine
SuccessWorks
Check out ways to research potential careers, look for a job or internship, applying to graduate school, or improve your marketability with SuccessWorks. Learn to market your study abroad skills and translate your skills into resume language. Meet with a Career Advisor to talk about ways to express your experiences in a professional manner.
Undergraduate Symposium
The annual Undergraduate Symposium showcases undergraduate creativity, achievement, research, service-learning and community-based research from all areas of study at UW-Madison including the humanities, fine arts, biological sciences, physical sciences, and social sciences.
University Housing
UW Housing Learning and Language Communities
The French House
Wisconsin English as a Second Language Institute
Opportunities to be a conversation partner, and TEFL Certification for teaching English overseas.
Wisconsin Involvement Network (WIN)
Search the Wisconsin Involvement Network (WIN) to connect to student organizations. There are over 150 groups with a cultural, ethnic, global health, or international theme geared toward all regions of the world. Narrow your search using the international category!
WUD Global Connections
Join the Global Connections committee, part of the Wisconsin Union Directorate, and help plan Interactive programs and events to foster awareness of global issues and interests.
Go Beyond!
Be creative with using your cross-cultural skills and language skills. Go beyond this list and think about volunteering with foreign languages in courts or hospitals. Explore our city’s distinct neighborhoods, and find other ways to engage in dialogue with members of the Madison community. Go beyond and build upon your experience!