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The Idea of Studying Abroad

Mon February 17, 2020     1254

The idea of you studying abroad is exhilarating, but the process to board that plane and land in your dream destination is not that simple. Or is it? Just make sure that you know what you want to do for your further studies and if you don't, well, come to Program Explorer where the experts of foreign education give you the best advice towards your career choices.

Campus Life

Applying

When you narrow down on the institution, make sure that you don't target just one, but at least three to four. This minimises the chances of you getting rejected from the only university you applied to! But don't apply to twenty different places for most, if not all institutions have an application fee ranging from $50 to $100. If you are confused as to how choose the best one for you, talk to one of the experts at Program Explorer. They match your interests, qualifications and budget to the best available programs.

Eligibility

One needs to check the eligibility criteria of a particular institute or course that they want to apply in as the criterion differs from your home country and it also differs from one institute to the other. For example, to be eligible to pursue your masters in the USA, one needs to have a minimum sixteen years of education. This means that one needs to do a four year of under graduation post their twelfth, though some courses also accept a three year undergraduate degree.

Get organized

The applicant needs to make sure to study the application process of the institute they want to apply into. The application might differ from one university to the other. One also needs to take care of the application deadlines, the SOPs, the transcripts, the visa requirements, the LORs, and so on. This part needs to be perfect because the universities put in a lot of weightage on to an application of a student for their selection or rejection.

Statement of Purpose

The Statement of Purpose is one of the most important document and plays a really vital role in your selection. Include your motive to study a particular course and also the reasons as to why do you want to study a particular subject along with impressing on the fact as to why you want to study in their country and your future goals. Make sure that it doesn't look like you just want to immigrate and settle down in their country instead of wanting to study there.

Letter of Recommendation

The Letter of Recommendation, which can be written either by your professors, or by ex employers, if any, depict the personality of the student and makes the profile stand out. Majority of the universities look for at least two to three recommendations. Essays are again another important addition to your application whose number and topics are decided by the university or by the students themselves based on their interest. Generally, universities demand two to three essays per applicant.

Academic Transcripts

The academic transcripts include the educational qualification and the scores of the students till the date of application to a foreign university. Since you need to get it from your current/previous university and it takes time, make sure you keep it ready well before time.

Examination Requirements

Different courses have different examination requirements that they need the applicants to fulfil. Along with this, there might also be a minimum mark criteria. Graduate Management Admission Test or GMAT is a test that is to be given by students who wish to be admitted to a graduate management program at a management education institution abroad. Graduate Record Examinations or GRE is to be given by candidates who wish to pursue graduate program mainly in the field of engineering and sciences. Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) is given by the ones who want to take an admission in a undergraduate program, even though some of the institutes take in applicants without a SAT too. So, make sure to check the requirements. Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) and Law School Admission Test (LSAT) are given by applicants who want to study medical or law respectively.

The expected scores in most of the tests are:

  1. TOEFL:550 (paper-based),213 (computer-based) or 79 (internet-based).
  2. SAT: A score over 2000.
  3. GRE: 149-153(Verbal Reasoning), 158-160 (Quantitative Reasoning) and 3.8-4.0 (Analytical Writing).
  4. GMAT: A score from 550 and above.
  5. IELTS: A band between 5.5-7.0.
  • English language testing: Different institutes and countries require different tests for the English language but every applicant who belongs to a nation where English isn't the first language, has to undergo at least one of them. Depending upon the requirements, one can either give an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) or Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the Pearson Tests of English (PTE).
  • Paperwork: Keep all the paper work ready at the time of application. Depending upon which country you are applying for, the university might demand a translation of all the documents to the official language of the host nation. If this is a requirement in your case, make sure you get this done too in advance so that you do not miss on any admission deadlines.
  • Financial Requirements: The applicant will have to submit a document that shows as to how will the education and the living expenses be paid, at least for the first year of your study. The visas and the applications aren't processed further without showcasing the financials.
  • Scholarships: Since most of the institutes abroad want a diversity in their student ratio, they promote education and provide financial aid to the ones in need. All you need is an amazing scholarship essay and adherence to the financial aid guidelines and deadlines and you are good to go. This will definitely reduce your and your parent's financial burden to some extent.
  • Interviews: Some universities might want to take your interview before they finally give a heads up to your application. Thanks to technology, you won't have to travel to the other part of the world for the interview. Be prepared and relax. Dress formally and keep all your documents handy and know some current affairs of your nation and some about them. This puts you across as a global citizen wanting to make a difference to the world. And yes, most importantly get a good night sleep before this and don't fret!
  • Research: Research about where you will stay and what are the accommodation options in your future home. Besides this, you can also research about the local places, the restaurants and the country at large. This will not only satiate your travel pangs, but will also get you updated and connected with the new country.
  • Deadlines: When applying, make sure you follow the deadlines and plan accordingly. It is better to start applying well in time to avoid any last minute snags. Most of the institutions take applications online but there are some who still follow the conventional way. For colleges that still take paper based applications and forms via mail, make sure to apply for them at the earliest for that post will take time to travel the ocean and reach to the other side of the world. If you think all this is too much to take care of, talk to an expert.

 

Applying to a university or a college abroad can be a real daunting task for some. So make sure that you do your research well in advance and apply early so that you have enough time to breathe in all the changes and the differences that you will be facing once you start living your 'new life' in a new country.