Building readiness for a successful international academic experience: a handbook for the outbound study abroad student

As a handbook, this project offers study abroad administrators at the university level a tool to provide pre-departure support to outbound, domestic, study abroad students. Furthermore, it offers guidance, tips and advice to those students receiving the handbook, to effectively prepare before they depart to ensure a successful academic venture abroad. By adapting the methods and expertise of industry leaders within the field of International Education, the information within the handbook delivers meaningful insight into best practices for navigating life overseas. Throughout the handbook, nearly all stages of the study abroad experience are addressed, including coming home. In the context of pre departure readiness, the handbook can be used as a guide for one-on-one advising sessions and the home university orientation required by all students prior to their departure. Also unique to this handbook is a directory of resources available to the student, in the case of a crisis or emergency, and on-campus resources when returning home.