|
Although it is not probable, it is possible
that while you are in the United States, a medical, financial,
or family problem could arise at home, and you will need to
decide how to respond to it.
Fortunately, e-mail and the telephone usually make communications
with home relatively easy. Consult with your family or friends
to find out the seriousness of the problem before you decide
too hastily what you should do. Here are a few things to consider
in such situations:
Academic Issues: If you decide to leave, make sure
your academic work will not suffer. You should meet with your
academic adviser, the international student adviser, and (for
master's and doctoral students) your thesis director. If you
miss a significant amount of work, a professor may grant you
an "incomplete" as a final grade, meaning that you
will have a chance to make up the work in the next semester.
You might also be allowed to drop some classes, but in that
case you would not get a grade or credit for the work done.
Financial Issues: First of all, a trip back home might
be expensive and could seriously impact your budget, especially
if it is during peak seasons. Secondly, if you leave for a
long period, your tuition as well as the status of scholarships
and grants might be affected. If you need to depart for an
extended period, make sure to contact your university's financial
aid office to discuss your situation. Your international student
adviser can help you consider your options and can also help
you deal with the university's administration.
Reentry Into the United States: Whenever you leave
the country, you should check with your international student
adviser to make sure you have the appropriate visa and documents
to reenter the United States. If your visa expires while you
are gone, if you had a single-entry visa, or if you are away
for an extended period, you might need to reapply at your
local U.S. embassy for a valid student visa.
Family Issues: Sometimes families are reluctant to
inform students living abroad of emergencies at home in order
not to burden them. But not knowing fully what is going on
at home can be frustrating for an international student. You
and your family should discuss this issue before you leave
to define what you will expect from each other during your
stay in the United States.
You Are Not Alone: If an emergency situation does
arise, you can expect to receive support from your international
student adviser, school officials, and friends. They are there
to listen to you, and they can be helpful as you decide what
to do.
Back to the top
|
