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Basics for Students
Why
should I study abroad?
There
a variety of reasons why you can and why you should do so,
the most important being;
- Academic credit
- Language acquisition
- Practical experience
- Resume building
- Experience of a lifetime
What is the perfect program
for me?
Before
you decide to leave it is essential that you know where your
interests lie, don't just follow any direction. Make a plan
pertaining to the universities you would like to join. Do
some studying, find out if they are offering the programs
you wish to pursue. Choosing your majors and electives can
be a tough job if you don't know what kind of orientation
you have in your career.
The
Internet is a brilliant place to start your search, when looking
for a particular program try and look for the following components;
- Cost
- Time-length of program
- University offering the program
- Location
- Description of program
Once
you know these things you will be able to decide if the choice
you are about to make is in coordination with your interests
and your financial standing.
What do I need to do before
I leave?
1.
To clear your perspective and to get the best direction talk
to your parents, your schoolteachers or to a career counselor
so you know your proper direction.
2.
Apply for a passport.
3.
As soon as you receive your passport, make a copy of the front
page that has all your identification information, and keep
it in a separate place from your passport. If your passport
is lost or stolen, the copy will make it easier to get a new
one.
4.
Get a Visa- do some research and find out if your country
of destination requires a visa. If so what kind of visa will
you need? Sixty percent of the world's countries require visas
for any length of stay. If you travel, you may need visas
for other countries. Apply early for visas. Processing time
varies widely.
5.
Once you have your visa, get all your shots from the prescribed
doctor and your medical checkup done.
6.
Make sure to get student discounts with the help of your student
ID card. Getting an International calling card is not such
a bad idea, keep it for emergency purposes. Plan your budget;
know the conversion rates. Consider the in-country costs before
you go. You should develop a budget and live by it. Consider
the costs of optional excursions, gifts, school supplies,
internet access, in-country transportation and general living
costs.
7.
Learn about your destination- You're going to experience culture
shock, no matter how cool you are, regardless of how diverse
you are, and with no regard to your language ability you will
have culture shock. One of the ways to have a better experience
is to have realistic expectations. Read everything you can
about your future home.
8.
Pack Light, make sure to pack your patience and flexibility
along.
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