Preparation and Planning Goes a Long Way (Studying Abroad)

Member Name: shroud

Product:	Studying Abroad
Date:	16/04/09 (82 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Experience a different culture, make new friends, get your degree while having adventure

Disadvantages: can become an unobtainable dream if not properly thought through in advance

Having attended schools in a few different countries, and having children who wish to to the same, I thought I might share a bit of insight on studying abroad. It is a serious proposition that all too often goes unrealised, all for lack of proper preparation. A few things are essential.

1. Fitting the right foreign school to your needs.

As a child, we moved a lot because of my father's job, and I often was at a school for less than a year, sometimes not even for a full term. And while I picked up useful phrases in another tongue quite quickly, the possibility arose that I would not have enough time to learn a language well enough to be able to excel in studies being taught in that foreign tongue. for this reason, I attended schools where English was the main language, yet I still got to mix with the local population somewhat at school, and be totally immersed when at home. Even a university level student can take advantage of a system like that if they wish to experience a different culture, but have a language barrier. For example, many English speaking students experience Japan while studying at Temple University's campus in Tokyo, where the student body is roughly 50% Japanese and the remainder is mainly British, American, Australian, and other English speaking foreign nationals.

If you are a high school student, you can also study abroad at a high school, but need to locate a school and study abroad sponsor programme that will accept you. You need to weed through their offers and select a program that meets your wishes and pocket.

2. Know what you plan to study, where you want to study, and that you are academically prepared.

This may sound like a no-brainer, but all too often this is where people come completely unstuck. If you have decided for example that like my daughter, you wish to study Japanese drawing and art history at an actual Japanese university with lectures in Japanese, you would have to find out a few things far, far in advance. As in before even picking your college and high school courses. Why? It is quite simple.

Advanced courses require certain pre-requisite knowledge. Some relate to the course you may wish to follow. Others are to help pare down the sheer volume of applicants to the chosen few the university has class space for. Yet others may be required just to be able to get your visa. In my daughter's case, she has to be more than merely proficient in drawing and painting as well as have a rigourous academic background that closely matches that expected for a Japanese student aspiring to attend university. This means in addition to her Japanese art and drawing background, she has to take and pass subjects such as physics, trigonometry, and so on with an 90% or better score. Not to mention attain fluency in reading, writing, and speaking Japanese. Knowing this is expected has meant we were able to evalute what she needed to attain to be able to successfully reach this level, and so tailor her remaining primary education to match. You can find these things out by cheking out the university websites for admission information for foreign students and the Japanese Education Ministry for informnation on academic qualifications.

3. Know the costs

Don't just assume you can work your way through college, or that you will find a grant, or that mum or dad can shell out suddenly. The more money you can save toawrds living expenses abroad means less money to find overall. DO find out if scholarships are availble for foreign students and what you need to qualify. Also seriously find out if your student visa will allow working so you can plan ahead accordingly.

4. make sure mentally that you are okay to be far away from everyone you know

It would really be a major bummer if you got your dream to study abroad, and then while 3000 miles away realised you are so homesick you could just die. This happens even to people who are used to living away from the parents and have travelled a bit. It is a far cry to know that in a couple of days you can go to your fave sandwich shop with your old mates than it is to know that when you get the flu, no one you know is actually there to bring you some soup. When you are totally alone in a truly foreign place, familair things can trigger homesickness and do serious damage too. Consider taking a working holiday if possible or do a homestay visit to your chosen country and test the waters. Make contacts that live there ahead of time that can show you about. This way you are not alone nor in totally unfamilar territory and get somewhat acclimitised to your new environment.

5. Don't leave your sense of adventure behind

Keep your headset where it was when you dreamt of going abroad to study. See it for the opportunity it truly is, and take advantages of the little "adventures" you can enjoy while there to keep it all fresh for you. Just remember to study hard too!

Summary: Not to be done on mere whim, but planning and dedication can make it reality