Planning to study abroad

Now more than ever, with the skyrocketing number of people desiring to seek study opportunities abroad, there is a dire need to filter the salt from stones of information out there. This article aims to arm you with tools to enable your foreign studies.

P.S: You are about to be taken on a ride through a space that leads you closer to the equation “preparation + opportunity = success”, hold on to your oxygen apparatus, it will definitely be worth the ride.

One of the first questions most people who want to start on the journey of studying abroad are asked is “how do you intend to support yourself?” But indeed, as you will learn from this article the most important question is “Why?”

Know your why

Whether you are going abroad to study because you want to access more opportunities, or because the degree programme you intend to study is stronger on the other side, it is imperative that you understand that it is not an easy peasy journey, and it is important to  know why you are choosing to scale through the hurdles. Your why gives you perspective in your planning and ensures that you are able to lay a good foundation to start the long process towards studying abroad.

Know your when

Following the why, you should have an estimate of when you want to start the process towards studying abroad. With this in mind, you are able to make a great plan of when to start putting your documents together, give notice in time to people you would like to get recommendations from, ask your school administration to prepare your transcripts, etc, in order to meet application deadlines. Take for instance, a senior secondary school one student who wants to do his undergraduate studies abroad would have to start laying a good foundation for his application right from this level by having strong grades, taking part in extracurriculars, volunteering and so on.

Know your which

Next up? Which resources are available to you? YouTube is a life saver. It exposes you to so much beyond your space, and you might want to start from there. Do you have mentors or people who have been on this journey before you that could offer you wisdom? Be sure to maximize their knowledge. There are a number of study abroad fairs – attend them and try to network. You could also join relevant Facebook pages and follow relevant Instagram pages to your process such as @intake.ng. There are some very helpful applications like Common App which helps streamline an essential part of the admissions process for students. There is also a great study abroad organisation in Nigeria, Met education LTD(https://meteducationng.com/); a Service Company in the International Education Industry that registers students for several international examinations and also offers training for management education. Finally, the websites for the schools you are interested in should be your best friends. You could start a research specific to the particle school of interest on Google because all schools do not have the same application criteria. Some study abroad fairs’ websites include:

https://intake.education/ng

Our Edufairs – Upcoming Education Fair In Nigeria

https://www.universityfairs.com/fair/nigeria-international-education-fair-schools-tour

Know your where

Where do you want to study? Do they speak a different language? Are their locals friendly, are their living costs high, is accommodation affordable? Is the crime rate high? Do they have adverse weather conditions or natural disasters? How high are the schools of the country in the world rankings? Do they have the course of your choice? Is there by chance a relative living in that country to provide you with a support system? Indeed, before moving abroad it is important to ask yourself these questions to minimize culture shock when you arrive. You should also keep in mind that the grass is not always greener on the other side. Be sure to weigh the pros and cons!

Know your what

In processing your study abroad, there are different steps leading up to new steps and eventually to your move abroad. Most of these steps require documents. Hence it is very important to know what you need. Some basic documents required for processing study abroad include; transcripts, visa grants, passports, statements of purpose, English test certificates, résumés/CVs, references, and evidence of extracurriculars. Please note that not all documents listed above are compulsory for every application process and it is also not exhaustive. It is  important to note the steps necessary for your chosen programme, so you don’t begin from the last rather the first step. You can get details on your needed documents from the website of your school of interest.

Know your how

How do you intend to support yourself to study abroad? It is vital to know how to  find opportunities available to you. There are a lot of scholarships out there waiting for applicants, so be sure to apply to as many as you can. Some schools also have partial to full funding for their students.. You should calculate all the expenses for your schooling abroad from visa application fees, to school fees, to living costs and try to get a funding opportunity that covers all or most of your expenses so you can cover the costs. It is not enough to get admission to the school of your choice in the country and the degree programme of your choice. You need to take into account other costs as well such as food, computers and technology, rent, internet and phone bills, etc. Trust me, you really don’t want to be stranded in a foreign land.

Finally, don’t just lay on your bed fantasizing or dreaming you’re in college abroad, be intentional and work towards your goal.

Start planning on time, make a checklist, take note of deadlines. Some people have to try more than others but at the end of the day, it won’t matter how many times you tried. It will only matter that you got the opportunity.

To find more information about studying abroad, you can visit the following site:

https://www.topuniversities.com/student-info/studying-abroad/how-study-abroad-frequently-asked-questions

Godspeed.

Author: Nneka Amakom