Studying abroad is like the ultimate adventure of your life, and it requires a great deal of research, decisiveness, and careful thought. Studying abroad comes with its own set of benefits such as international exposure, cultural integration, unmatchable education, which makes up for a fantastic experience. But all is not rosy for going overseas for education is also a lot of planning and hard work which can be emotionally and psychologically strenuous as well.
Prospective students must start preparing for this painful, lengthy procedure about 10-12 months in advance and must prepare themselves for the extensive legwork involved in the system. Before the departure, a student must have ample time to sort out details like application process, transcript preparation, LORs & SOPs, finances, visa, and so on.
CHOOSING THE RIGHT COURSE IN THE RIGHT PLACE:
The very first step to an overseas application is the choice of a university or college and the perfect course. There are several search tools available online that can help you look at universities and research about their services, education system, rankings, faculty, career opportunities, and employability. The chosen course one determines their future in a new place. Hence, one must pick a course that interests him/her and proves beneficial for future endeavors.
COMPILING TRANSCRIPTS & DOCUMENTS:
Documentation is a preeminent aspect of an overseas application. A student must collect every document that could be of any significance. All academic, as well as travel documents, must be well in place and ready for consultation or use. Further, students must be extremely particular about their visa application as well as the Letter of Recommendation and the Statement of Purpose. The LOR & SOP must be authentic and carefully written with no room for errors. There must be no discrepancy that might create any problems in the future.
MANAGING FINANCES:
Managing finances can be one of the trickiest as well as time-consuming steps in this whole process. Your domestic credit/debit card might not work in a foreign nation, and hence, one must be careful and must at least have a few options for transactions. The applicant must contact the bank whose services he/she uses and ask them about their international withdrawal policies, currency exchange rates, and other services. Students must set up an online money transfer account valid in multiple countries such as PayPal. These details must be taken care of before the student for it is important to survival in a new country.
HEALTH INSURANCE & THOROUGH CHECK-UPS:
It is of utmost importance that an individual must be fit and healthy before he/she decides to venture out to a new country and a new place. Individual states have stringent entrance policies in terms of health and health insurance. For instance, New Zealand has very definitive health policies for international students. Students are required to fulfill specific healthcare obligations. However, everyone going overseas must go through a comprehensive health checkup regardless of the policies of the country.
INFORMATION ABOUT THE NEW COUNTRY:
Once all the official paperwork, financial work as well as documentation finishes, the applicant must take some time out and research about the country and place he/she will be going. One must draw details about the site such as lifestyle, essential cost of living, transportation, tourist hotspots, political situation, nearby restaurants and pubs, public safety, and knowledge about the community. All this information will give the applicant a rough idea about the place he shall be living in, and he can even find things that interest him and help him grow, such as a part-time job, student clubs, hobby classes, nightlife, and many more.
Once all the pointers mentioned above are of the applicant’s checklist, he/she is ready to embark on the journey of a lifetime. These factors, however, must be kept in mind at all times and must be followed to the core. After all, no one would like a small discrepancy to ruin their entire planning and efforts of overseas education.
