Everyone, at one or the other point in their life, might have harboured dreams of travelling all over the world and perhaps even spun a vivid picture of them settling abroad. The charm and the opportunities that the West has to provide can be quite tempting. But not everyone can live to see their dream come to fruition. It is, after all, not that easy to uproot yourself from a place that you have known all your life and begin living amidst a land of a different culture. It is more of a cultural anomaly. Students, in their teenage years or early twenties, nourish this dream of studying, getting a degree, and settling abroad, more than anyone else.
Banks and various financial institutions have a plethora of student loans to offer which has made it possible for interested students to pursue their desired education in foreign waters. However, the desire is not the only thing that you, as a student, should be concerned with. There are several things that you must factor in while you decide upon pursuing a degree abroad. We are going to discuss some of them here, in this article so that you do not have to look for bits and pieces of information from all over the internet and bring them together to frame one complete picture. Let us now read through all these factors and try to make an informed decision.
First, Talk To Students Pursuing A Degree Abroad:
This is a vital point that cannot go amiss. More than career counsellors and professional-looking University websites, talk to students who have real experiences about your desired course and the University. They can give you all the information you require. We live in a world where branding has assumed a stature of its own. Therefore, every University (except perhaps the Ivy Leagues) in your home country or abroad always look for ways to grab the attention of naïve students. Do not be fooled by what their brochures or websites have to offer. Most of them are plain eyewash. Do your own research based on legitimate and reliable sources.
Think Of The Financial Aspect:
You cannot wake up one fine morning, pack your bags and leave for the US to study Biotechnology or Political Science, or whatever you intend to. Studying abroad usually comes along with a huge financial constraint and a responsibility that you cannot hope to evade. Therefore, even before you put your mind to chasing that dream of studying abroad, think of how you can fix a plan where you can sponsor your education. For starters, there are several scholarships available that pick up all the tabs on your education (and sometimes also provides for your stay and stationeries). Look for those scholarships and try to crack an exam where you can manage to get at least a major part of your education. However, if scholarships do not seem to work out for you, and you do not have the means to dish out the money required for the degree from your own pockets, then education loans provided by several financial institutions might be just the right choice for you. Though, with bank loans, you should know that you are taking up quite a bit of risk, since it takes the heart out of an individual to repay the loan on time.
See To It That Your Passport and Other Travel Documents Are Ready:
You might have cracked the entrance examination to a University abroad, arranged for the funds and kept every other essential ready. But, all of the efforts will go down in waste if you do not see to it that your passport, visa and other travel documents are ready.
These processes take a long time, and if you think that you can wait till the last moment, you will only be fooling yourself. Do not wait for your loan to be approved or your results to be declared. Get the passport done anyway. It can never be a waste. Either way, if you are not able to make it to the University in that particular year, you can always take another shot at it the next time.
Research The Local Culture:
You will always be welcomed abroad if you show interest in their culture and put in that extra effort to learn more about the place and everything that it has to offer. Knowledge can never go in waste, no matter what it is about. Therefore, make sure to stock up on your wisdom to be able to adapt to the transition from one culture to another culture.
Learn What The Degree Has To Offer Once Done:
This is an extremely important point to consider, especially when you plan on studying abroad. You need to look into the utility of your degree because it has a huge cost involved in it. Some of you might have taken education loans to sponsor the degree, and you will have to pay it back in due course of time. Therefore, if you do not have a promising future ahead of you, there is no point leaving your base and pursuing that degree. There are several websites, like EduRef.net, that provide information on different courses and their prospects. Have a look at them before deciding anything.
Conclusion:
Gather as much as information possible before you apply to a University away from your home country. Take into consideration the costs (hidden or whatever) involved with your degree. Studying abroad isn’t a joke that you can hope to go through with without any preparation. Do your research well in advance and only then proceed if the conditions seem suitable for you.
