{"id":157,"date":"2025-04-04T08:00:37","date_gmt":"2025-04-04T12:00:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.bsu.edu\/studyabroad\/?p=157"},"modified":"2025-04-03T10:59:20","modified_gmt":"2025-04-03T14:59:20","slug":"the-road-to-study-abroad-academic-adjustment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.bsu.edu\/studyabroad\/2025\/04\/04\/the-road-to-study-abroad-academic-adjustment\/","title":{"rendered":"The Road to Study Abroad: Academic Adjustment"},"content":{"rendered":"

I\u2019m Audrey, a senior studying Political Science who stumbled upon an opportunity to spend my last semester at BSU in China and decided to seize it. This blog post is the second in a series of entries<\/a><\/strong><\/span> describing my lessons learned, mistakes made, and tips to share during my studies in the beautiful city of Chengdu\u2014so come along and join me for the ride!<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

One of the most fundamental aspects of studying abroad is academic coursework\u2014I mean, it\u2019s literally in the name! Education is at the heart of every study abroad program, and it naturally involves a level of adjustment to the academic environment of a foreign country. Fortunately, as a current study abroad student, I have firsthand experience with this adjustment, and I am using this blog post as an opportunity to share some of my advice with current and prospective study abroad students at BSU!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Study Abroad Course Selection<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Many programs will offer courses taught entirely in English, and not all programs will require you to study the language of your host country while abroad. However, in case your program <\/span>doesn\u2019t <\/span><\/i>require language study, I have created a handy flowchart to help you decide if you should take a language course while abroad:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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When you decide to study abroad, you will be required to meet with your academic advisor to ensure that your coursework while abroad aligns with your academic goals at Ball State. During this process, your advisor and our Study Abroad advisors are here to help you<\/a><\/strong><\/span>, so don\u2019t be afraid to ask questions and explore your options!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Cultural Differences in Education<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As with many aspects of culture, academic standards and expectations may be different at your host university than they are at Ball State. The extent to which you are exposed to these differences will likely depend on your program (I, for example, am enrolled in a program where professors are selected by my provider and are accustomed to teaching to a class of American students). Understanding the academic environment of your study abroad location ahead of time will be crucial to your adjustment process.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The best way to prepare to take courses abroad is to know what to expect ahead of time. Before you set off, take some time to research your host country\u2019s academic culture, talk to previous students of the program, or even meet with a Ball State Student Success Coach<\/a><\/strong><\/span> to prepare for these changes. Additionally, once you start your coursework abroad, be sure to keep an open mind: avoid making judgments about your host country\u2019s academic environment based on cultural differences and give yourself time and space to adjust to the new academic structure.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Balancing Academics and Exploration<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Of course, the goal for any study abroad program is to provide academic opportunity and cultural immersion inside <\/span>and<\/span><\/i> outside the classroom, so it is important to make sure you are getting a balanced experience while abroad. Studying abroad is not the same as taking a semester-long vacation; it is an opportunity for you to explore a new country and culture with an open mind. There is no one-size-fits-all solution to finding that balance while studying abroad, but I can share some tips that I\u2019ve used to help me stay on top of schoolwork while taking advantage of my time in China:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n