Basic steps in preparing for higher education abroad

Studying abroad is a great way to expand your knowledge, meet new people, and enjoy the new experience. Most importantly you can gain an educational qualification that would be recognized and respected by employers and academics worldwide. You can not only learn and develop the essential skills you’ll need in your career and working life but also you can increase your earning potential through higher education. The first question comes as to what steps should be taken for getting higher education and we will discuss about those steps in the following section:

Decision making

The first and the most important starting point is making your decision. You should decide whether you want to go for higher education, if yes, do you want to go abroad or get it in your own country? Make your decision, be determined, work hard and go after it.

Creating a Profile

Next step is to create a powerful profile. Students often consider “CGPA” is the only parameter for judging their talent but it’s not necessarily always true. While higher CGPA can make the way easier but there are many other contributing factors in your application. It’s not only the CGPA it’s a complete application package. If you have talent and thirst for knowledge you can have it even with poor CGPA.

Having some research experience can make your application way stronger than others since higher education is mostly oriented around research. Professors often time look for students who can apply their theoretical knowledge and have the experience in research work and if you can prove yourself to be a worthy candidate for such, you can go past the necessity of having a higher GPA. Be attentive at your class projects, especially thesis works and any work relevant to potential research or publication opportunity. Try to make a healthy relationship with your thesis supervisor and professors. One of the most important materials of your application package is the letter of recommendation and it is expected to come from your thesis supervisor and professors. It’s not mandatory to get the recommendation letter from your professors but it helps if it comes from someone who closely knows about your potential and has been connected to any of your work. If you collect it from a professor with whom you had roughly any acquaintance or a person who doesn’t know about you and your capability; it is most likely that he/she will not be able to write an impressive letter of recommendation for you even if he/she wants to.  On the other hand, when you have a recommendation from a professor whom you have worked with, he or she could write the recommendation with extra care to highlight you and your capabilities. You could even try to publish your thesis or any research work in journals or conference proceedings. A publication can take your application to a different level. You can attend competitions, present your work through posters and can do extra-curricular activities to make your CV even more interesting. Keep in mind, the admission committee wants to see a whole picture of you rather than a mere CGPA which is one of the many indicators of your talent.

Choosing the country and university

The best idea would be to get acquainted with the institutions before your trip abroad. Therefore you should explore the educational system, entry requirements and opportunities in the chosen specialty in that country. Check out the living expenses including, tuition fees, insurance costs, and opportunities for part time work. It is important to know the reputation of the university and how well the program you are considering is regarded in that country and internationally. After deciding the country start preparing for the specific requirements of that country, for example in the USA most of the universities requires TOEFL score, on the other hand, Canada, Australia requires IELTS score as an indication of English skill. You can apply in multiple countries but you shouldn’t make a mess.

Admission Preparation (the last step)

 At the same time, prepare the documents necessary for admission. Nearly all European universities require applicants who have not yet graduated from school to submit a statement on academic performance over the past three years. By the way, the higher the university rating, the higher the requirements for certificate grades. They can also take into account the grade point average for the core subjects. In countries such as Germany, UK, and Norway, school education takes 12 years to complete, thus, to make up for the difference in the educational systems, all foreign students have to undertake preparatory training programs. Examples include the A-level or Foundation or IB programs, which take place in high school or a preparatory center at the University. Current or final grades of these programs are also included in the list of required documents. Sometimes, to enroll in a European university, one needs to take tests or examinations on a major subject or submit a portfolio.

You should invest a substantial amount of time into writing your motivational letter. Explain your choice of profession and educational institution, and what your plans for the future are. It is advisable to give some details of your achievements, such as attendance to competitions, contests or other special talents. Recommendations from teachers, as well as diplomas and certificates, are more than welcome.

Finally, check out the documents you need to send to university, most of the time package includes filled out registration form, photos, a copy of the passport and possibly, reference on your financial standing etc. Cross check the documents again and again and send the document package to the University.

Good luck