Managing challenges while seeking study abroad options
Foreign education has been attracting a lot of aspirants from India. Besides wonderful life experiences, studying abroad also gives the required push to the career. Notwithstanding the several benefits, studying abroad is not free from some blemishes.
The application process to a foreign university and taking admission tends to be challenging and full of complications. It is probable that a student may make mistakes pursuing the lengthy process. There are some common consequential mistakes that most of the students make.
Where to apply?
When it comes to picking the right country or university, students often make the mistake of applying with only limited renowned universities.
Applying with only few famous universities pinpoints the restricted knowledge one holds, as they mostly gain their information online. Due to the limited knowledge, they miss out on the universities that might be at par with the popular ones in quality and reputation, but are just not part of the buzz yet. Hence, before applying to a university or a program, an applicant must conduct thorough research.
Complicated application and admission procedure
It is well-known that the procedure of applying to a foreign university tends to be complicated and painstaking.
The documentation, numerous formalities, and submissions make it a rigorous procedure.
Therefore, it is advisable to take proper assistance to avoid making mistakes. One can take the assistance of a genuine consultancy whose core operation is to assist students in taking admission to foreign universities.
Nowadays, even some Edtech companies are providing aid. Reaching out to friends or relatives who have studied abroad is also a feasible option. However, it is strongly suggested to stay clear of bogus agencies, who claim to know a back-door for entry to these universities, as, in reality, there are no backdoors and these agents just con the aspirant for money.
Incomplete knowledge of the different courses and programs
Students do not always hold the information on all of the courses a university offers.
As foreign universities provide a variety of programs, it may be challenging for students to have in-depth knowledge of all.
Also, there might be some new courses at universities, which otherwise are lesserknown in other countries. Here, many students miss out on the relevant opportunities, by only trying for the popular courses.
There is also a possibility that the other course was more suitable for the aspirant depending on the aptitude. A lot of students also go by the end results or job packages that out of college students receive, and believe that to be their genuine target. However, it is vital to understand the concrete criteria and make the informed decisions.
Arranging a pool of funds
It is not strange to say that it takes a mould of funds to study abroad. Besides overwhelming tuition fees, there are other significant expenses also that need to be taken care of.
Therefore, miscalculations are frequent. Due to the requirement of the enormous sum of money, many students drop the plan of studying abroad. Some students end up choosing the wrong universities or programs to reduce costs. It is a big mistake as one may not achieve the core objective of studying abroad.
The inadequacy of funds must not deter one from pursuing the right education. So, it is advisable to take a financial support service like- education loan from a bank at a low interest rate, online edtech service, new age fintech platforms. This way, the immediate financial burden can be managed.
Learning the local language
Many students make the mistake of considering English as the only perfect source of communication, thereby disregarding the native language. Learning the native language of the host country is challenging at times but always beneficial.
Not learning the same can prove to be a communication barrier and may restrain one from socialising and gaining experience, leading to the dropping of various opportunities. Thus, if someone is going to a non-english country, it’s immensely important to learn at least the basics of the local language of the host country. At times, knowing the native language is a requirement as well, and sometimes it gives your application extra points.
Conclusion
Due to various benefits and challenges, studying abroad is not a cakewalk. But several consultancies and even Edtech companies are there to help students out.
Connecting with alumni or peers is also a good option to know the real picture of a university, country, and other verticals. It is recommended to go for the process as per the planning, budget, and convenience. Also, it is strongly advised to be aware of any bogus agents that make false promising of having the key to admissions abroad.