Choosing your study destination
Chapter 1
Selecting a university overseas to pursue my further studies was much tougher than I had anticipated. I needed the school that would most cater to my needs and interests. I enlisted the help of some great mentors and after going back and forth between Canada, U.K, USA and Australia, I ended up choosing Australia. One of my best decisions to date. Those four countries all maintain educational excellence but there is a lot more to consider when choosing your study destination. The cities in Australia are just as highly rated as the universities themselves. Melbourne, one of my favourite cities, has been ranked the world’s most liveable city, with Sydney and Perth following closely behind*. This ranking takes a number of factors into account including: student diversity, quality of life, employability, amongst others. That in itself, made the decision clear for me.
No matter what type of study you intend to do in Australia, some research and planning will help you have a safe and rewarding experience. From selecting which institutions to apply to, getting there and adjusting to your new student life, there’s a lot to think about. One of the best places to start is looking into a credible placement agency that can assist you with the admissions and visa processing. I cannot stress more how important selecting a credible placement agency is as it will make all the difference to your whole experience. A great agent will assist you in selecting a course with great global prospects, at a great campus and in a location that suits you. The general process to get a visa involves selecting and getting acceptance to a course, proof of finances, proof of English proficiency, medical check-ups and health insurance as well as criminal conduct checks.
I was very lucky to find an agent who went above and beyond to make sure I was prepared for this journey. The agent asked all the right questions. Will there be a need for a job to earn cash for subsistence? Do you have a student CV ready and do you know much about job search strategies? I still remember how she talked to me about prioritization, work-study balance and budgeting. All these being some of the topics this blog will address in the coming weeks. Here was an agent who was vested in us succeeding overseas and not just sending us unprepared. Her insight prepared me for the challenges that lay ahead. I remember her stressing that finding the best routine and learning to prioritise tasks would make all the difference in the quality of your life overseas. What about culture shock and managing it? From food to infrastructure? Culture shock is a fact of life once you are immersed in another culture. It’s interesting to see how the whole experience can deepen our appreciation for where we have come from and strengthen our own values that our home culture has taught us. Coping with challenges faced in an unfamiliar country will require creativity and critical thinking, which are great life skills to learn for life success. In no time, I was headed to JKIA on a one-way ticket to the land known as Down Under!
My parents were left behind dealing with the empty nest syndrome. Their emotions were keenly felt when it came to departure but in time, a number of avenues provided solace and made the transition manageable. Better connectivity thanks to modern technology as well as affordable travel were some of the ways they were able to alleviate this empty nest syndrome. Join me next week as I take you on my journey through life down-under and hopefully equip you for when your chance comes!
