Table of Contents:
Everyone knows that choosing a college is a challenging task in its own right. But what about if you want to study abroad for a little while? Since we’re talking about studying overseas, you may be thinking the process is harder. However, that’s not exactly true.
Studying abroad can be easier than you think it is, but it’s possible that you don’t know how to go about it. After all, we’re talking about leaving the country, which is an experience in itself. In this article, we’ll be providing tips on how you can choose a program and what you need to get started.
Have Financing in Place
As you already know, college can be very expensive. No matter what degree you choose to pursue, you can expect to pay thousands in tuition. But that’s to be expected; what you may not expect, however, is the cost of studying abroad. You’ll be spending around $18,000 on average for the program, but it ultimately depends on the location.
Another thing you need to consider is the transportation costs. Traveling to a foreign country can be very expensive, but there’s a way you don’t have to pay anything. There are Going Merry scholarships for college students as an option for a fantastic way to finance the entire excursion.
Going Merry houses thousands of scholarships for you to choose from. To make your search easier, the platform comes with a personalized matching feature, which gives you options that solely benefit you. In this case, what you want to get is known as a full-ride scholarship.
Full-ride scholarships help aspiring students pay for their tuition, transportation, school supplies, and room and board. Before you search, however, it’s important to note that not every scholarship will finance the entire program. There are a select few that only pay for around half the price.
Choose a Location You’ll Love
Location is a common phrase used in real estate and it holds meaning when it comes to studying abroad. When it comes to choosing a location, make sure it’s one you know you’ll enjoy. It can be Spain, Italy, or even Japan. The world is quite literally your oyster.
Granted, you don’t want to pick something on a whim. You need to research every area you’re interested in visiting and weigh the pros and cons of each. The pros and cons can be whether the culture interests you, the price of your academic program, and even if you favor the cuisine.
Research Academic Programs Schedules
Time management is one of the most crucial skills to have, especially when it comes to studying abroad. Every program has different schedules that you’ll need to adapt to.
Being late or missing a class can be detrimental to your education. In addition, if you’re going within the full-ride scholarships, displaying tardiness can ultimately have it revoked. Make sure you know when and where the classes are being held, so you can create a comprehensive schedule.
Verify Reputation and Accreditation
Regardless of the program, you’re choosing to study in another country, you need to verify two things: its credibility and reputation. If a program you’re interested in isn’t accredited, it’s highly recommended you keep searching.
A program that’s not accredited may come off as sketchy. You want to make sure where you’re going to learn has the AIPE accreditation. AIPE is short for Accredited Institutions of Postsecondary Education.
But even with an AIPE accreditation, the reputation may not be what you’re expecting. Unfortunately, not all programs are known for being educational or pleasant to study in.
There’s no better way to get a good first impression of a program than by word of mouth. Read the reviews left by current and previous students. As you read, bear in mind that there may be a few negative reviews here and there. While we encourage you to take these reviews seriously, you need to keep looking if the negatives outweigh the positives.
