Things to consider before studying abroad

How to decide what to study abroad? Why do you want to study abroad?

These are the key questions that you should consider before studying abroad. Many students might feel lost after graduating from high school as they have no idea which decision is considered as right and suitable for them. I felt the same. I was so lucky to have my parents giving me suggestions on studying abroad, and I listened to advice from others, thus decided to study abroad eventually in order to improve myself and gain unique experience in university life, which mentioned in my previous blog “The Unexpected Journey”. However, when taking advice from others, it is important to listen to yourself first to avoid thoughtless following as it can have significant impact on our decisions. People tend to follow the crowd nowadays, especially when people around us are doing the same thing, which seems right and makes us want to blindly follow to avoid feeling left out. To know if studying abroad is for you, you should not only consider the study abroad budget, but also the willingness and ability to face and overcome the upcoming challenges such as being independent, language barrier, homesickness, culture shock and reintegration.

Moreover, the way of deciding what to study is to think about the things I enjoy doing and figure out what I want to do in my future career. I joined the interact club for 5 years in high school and participated in a lot of events to work behind the scenes. I agree with the fact that “the less prominent the role, the more important it is”. This assures me that I love working in a team and enjoy working behind the scenes as it gives me a sense of accomplishment, thus I chose digital media as my study abroad program. Many students are concerned about job salaries and future job prospects; thus, they chose the course that related to highest paying jobs and in-demand career without considering whether it suits them or whether they like it or not. The way of knowing what is right for you is to depend on your intentions. For example, considering your current passions and life goals helps to decide what you want to study.

Currently, there is a news article regarding “fraudulent course providers face closure in Labor’s international education crackdown” from The Guardian stated that the federal government took actions on the ‘Ponzi scheme’, which many course and education providers tried to take advantage of students by offering bonuses for overseas agents them to lure foreign students enrol in their courses and work full-time for them. For instance, the unregulated agents determined to deceive students by directing them to enrol courses that irrelevant to their talents, skills or interests and not suitable for them as well as attracting them with the rules on work rights (Cassidy, 2023). Therefore, knowing yourself is important. Sometimes, things that sound right do not represent that it suits you. As I mentioned earlier, choosing a study abroad program that you are passionate about helps to reduce stress and avoid demotivation in university life, and getting the right motivation to study abroad helps to keep you on the right track. 

Lastly, choosing the right study abroad consultant is also important. Many colleges and universities offer university placement services that provide advice and guidance on the best possible course and institution as well as credible international education agency located nearby colleges and universities that assists students to apply for study abroad, can help and guide you through the entire application process without charging consulting fees.