Returning Students

Welcome back from your studies off campus!  We are eager to see you and hear about your extraordinary experiences, so be sure to stop in our office for a visit.  Adjusting to life back at home presents a unique set of opportunities and challenges.  We have a couple suggestions that may help to smooth the transition.

• Think about your peer group. We understand that you just left a whole group of new friends behind on your program, but if you are spending most of your time IMing them, try to get out and connect with students at Gettysburg. Some of you are fortunate to have friends here who had similar experiences off campus and are eager to share their common interests with you. For those of you who don't, know that 150 other students at Gettysburg College studied off campus the same semester you did. Stop by our office and we can link you with other returnees.
• Think about how you are spending your free time. If you are spending most of it in your room looking at photos from your semester off campus wishing you were there, it is time to engage with the community here.
  • There are specific events for you as a returnee including a Welcome Back Soiree, an International Pot Luck Dinner, and an International Movie Night.
  • Participate in international events here at the College. Every week there are lectures, recitals, films, and exhibitions that will continue to broaden your international perspective. Go to them! You will learn something new and connect with others who are dedicated to broadening their cross cultural knowledge. There are many international interest clubs on campus. Contact Student Activities to find out more information.
• Plan your next trip...Whether it is a spring break vacation or a year abroad after graduation, there are thousands of exciting ways that you can continue to travel and experience other cultures. If you are interested in working, volunteering or graduate studies abroad,the Center for Career Development is a fabulous resource for you. Check out the Off Campus Studies page on their website for more information.
• BE PATIENT....Allow yourself time to adjust. If you aren't feeling different than you have missed the whole point of going. These changes mean that you are challenged with finding a way to incorporate the new things that you care about into your choices at Gettysburg College and into the rest of your life. Many people don't know that our Counseling Center is full of people who have had significant international experiences.  Any student can schedule an appointment to meet with an advisor there by calling x6960.

We hope that you will use this website as a resource to helpful information pertinent to you - a returnee!  We are thrilled to have you back on campus and are eager to find ways to utilize you and your new skills in our campus community.