It is no foreign knowledge (haha) that everyone thinks of studying abroad at least once in their lives. We may learn about the advanced educational and social ecosystems in foreign lands either from watching movies and TV shows on Netflix, or while reading Western literature. Studying in a world that is far ahead in faculties that we as developing countries are still on our way to obtaining, is fascinating. However, if this is one desire you wish to indulge in, you must be prepared to deal with the various shortcomings that come with studying abroad.
Steps Involved in Studying Abroad
There is nothing wrong with trying to get the best education that the world has to offer, especially when you have focus and the clarity of direction in which you are headed. Yet at the same time, you must take into account all the other factors that can majorly influence this decision.
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Research Well
It is crucial for you to not leave any stone unturned. It is necessary to be extremely cautious and research with scrutiny about the courses you wish to pursue abroad. However, that is only in the later stages of your research. Before you sit down to pick the 4 Cs – the country you wish to live in, the city you wish to explore, the college you wish to study in, and the course you wish to pursue – you must consider:
1. Whether it is affordable and practical
How to choose an overseas college? While studying abroad can feel like a dream come true, it can also be really heavy on the pockets! It should not be a decision one rushes into, simply because they really want it. You must consider your parent’s financial circumstances before setting your mind. If that is an obstacle, there are other alternatives that can still help you follow your dream without it being a financial burden on your family!
What’s better than that? Read up about various scholarships that are offered to promising students across the globe here.
To make a more informed decision, refer to our guide for studying abroad that helps you weigh the pros and cons of studying abroad at the various stages of your life.
2. Whether it is the right time for you to make this decision
Applying to foreign universities in the post-covid world is even more of a strenuous task than ever before! While we have witnessed international students suffering from homesickness amidst a pandemic, we have also observed how this helps in strengthening people’s characters. While the pandemic was a shortcoming one couldn’t have foreseen before making this call, there are various factors to be considered before choosing to go so far away from home. Click here to gain deep insight into whether it is the right time for you to study abroad.
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Be Prepared For The Worst
This is not to scare you or discourage you from leaving the country, I promise! It is just a heads-up for you to prepare you for the tougher days abroad. While the open social and cultural environment can be freeing and comforting, it can also be challenging. A lot of Indian students when abroad suffer from recurring problems.
You have to manage everything on your own. It can be a task to shuffle between everything, while trying to explore a new space; especially for someone straight out of 12th grade, when one has to balance studies, house chores, exercise and entertainment all by themselves, without the help of their family, familiar faces, or the help at home that people often tend to take for granted.
Being financially responsible. Your parents may fund your tuition fees and send you pocket money (unless you have to work for the latter which is even tougher, but better!). What they won’t be able to do from across continents is monitor what you spend on, and when you save (or don’t!). This is a life skill that one can hone, like many others, while studying abroad. One has to be conscious of a lot of things other than just their studies. Disciplining oneself is a lot harder to do when no one is imposing it on you, but this is the independence that one hopes to learn while studying away from home!
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Trust Your Family To Support You
Not all days will be hard, but there will be some that will make you want to run back to your mother’s arms. Sounds unlike you? Wait until you miss the ghar ki sabzi you happily waste right now. As they say, distance makes the heart go fonder. Being away from home will make you miss home, but of course. However that does not mean that it is not doable. If your family has sent you to a foreign land, it means that they believe in you to make it through just fine. Do not hesitate to reach out to them whenever you feel lonely or homesick. It does not raise questions on your willpower or courage. On the contrary it speaks of your emotional intelligence and how you are not afraid to ask for help when you need it.
Conclusion
Do not be overwhelmed by this article! Our objective is to make you aware of everything that can affect your decision of studying abroad. After all, it is an important one that can be life altering not just for you, but for your family too. In order to understand your options at length and in detail, book a slot with us and get study abroad counselling from Mindler today!
