The application process for colleges abroad differs from country to country. Some are more rigid with their requirements, while others tend to have more or less the same requirements back home. If you want to attend a university outside your home country someday, study your options as early as today. Research everything you can about tuition, student life, courses, scholarship options, and grade requirements. You have to be ready if you want to achieve your dreams because the competition’s tough. You’re not the only one gunning to go to these schools.
Attend the Right School
Going to an international high school will help you prepare better if you want to study abroad for college. In an international school, you will be exposed to more or less the same curriculum as the colleges and universities you are eyeing. You are going to mingle with international students. You will learn a lot about their cultures, traditions, and languages. It may even do you good to ask your classmates questions about their home countries. This way, you can have insight into what to expect when you are finally ready to attend college abroad.
Choose the Program and University
By now, you should have clear goals about what you want. What do you want to do? Look for programs that align with your goals. For example, if you want to be in journalism, Northwestern University and New York University are two of the most popular institutions for it. As you well know, engineering degrees are highly coveted at Harvard University, University of Oxford, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Choose a university and program that are both highly ranked.
Consider the Requirements and Deadlines
Preparing ahead always beats those who prepare at the last minute. Prepare two to three years before you decide to apply for college. List down the requirements and deadlines. Find out if the university you are eyeing is accepting international students. How will you apply for a student visa? You can also try visiting official government websites to know more about their foreign student programs. Check the websites regularly to make sure that the requirements are the same.
Look for Scholarship Programs
Even well-off families will have a hard time sending their kids to a school abroad. Check the scholarship programs that you can apply to. When is their deadline? What do they offer? What are the requirements? Make sure that you fit the requirements of the scholarship before applying for it. If you still have time, start volunteering and working as an intern to gain more experience in your field.
Prepare Your Motivation and Recommendation Letters
Every university or college abroad will ask for two kinds of letters from you. The first one is a motivation letter. They want to know why you want to attend their programs and what they can gain from you. In your letter, talk about your ability to perform well. Discuss your skills and accomplishments and give examples about what their institutions can gain from you.
The second type of letter is a recommendation letter from your professors and classmates. Make sure to ask for these in advance so they will have time to write a detailed and compelling letter about your skills, accomplishments, and work ethic. Ask your professors and classmates if they are willing to clarify their answers through a phone call since the admissions department will most likely reach out to them.
Take an English Proficiency Test
If your first language is not English, you have to take an English proficiency test to study abroad. Universities and colleges require one of these two exams—TOEFL and IELTS. You have to apply for these two tests earlier because slots can fill up fast. Each university requires a different test score, so it’s best to check with your target school. Even if you are good with English, don’t forget to study and practice. They want to see your ability to use the English language both in academic papers and conversations.
Plan for the Costs
Although you can apply for scholarships, applying for admissions is a different matter. You have to shoulder the IELTS or TOEFL exam costs, the translation of local documents, the application for a student visa, and many more. Don’t be discouraged by the costs associated with applying for college abroad. You have to prepare for it early so you can also find ways to earn the money you need. You can either work for it or use your allowance to save.
Many students dream of studying abroad, but few dare to pursue the dream. You have in your hands the power to make that dream come true. Thanks to technology and globalization, the information about how to achieve this dream is right at your fingertips.