9 mistakes to avoid when thinking of studying abroad

It’s a common sight that most students when planning to get a degree abroad find themselves restless and sleepless. Where should I study? Which university will be fit for me? Will I get a study visa? What if I fail to get a scholarship?

These are the usual questions every study abroad student keeps thinking of. What makes it even worse is their impatient attitude and the way of rushing things fast to get it done.

Eventually, they end up making mistakes that lead to rejection of their applications and wastage of time and money.

We tell you those common mistakes that you can save yourself from making, if you are going to study overseas soon.

Blind love

You have decided on a country overseas because so and so in your family told you how beautiful it is. Or you must have read about the country's picturesque and historical places in your favourite novel. Or some of your friends are already studying in the country so they have inspired you to make it your dream country too.

Never choose a country blindly due to any of the reasons mentioned above. You must have little knowledge about the culture, geography and history of the country where you wish to go.

There are scores of other reasons that are factored in while deciding a country that’s ideal for your education. It's important for you to find someone reliable who'll tell what those reasons are. Our counsellors do exactly that. They tell you how to and why choose a particular country abroad, to prevent you from taking a wrong decision.

I’ve all documents ready

Incomplete document submission is one of the primary reasons why a university abroad might reject your application. It happens!

Assuming that you have all documents ready is one of the worse things that you can do yourself when you’re planning for your education overseas. Always cross-check with your friends or teachers or anyone who would have already studied abroad about the right set of documents that you need.

Though it’s highly unlikely, but what if you realise at the last minute that you’re missing out on crucial documents?

At Hotcourses, when we counsel students, we tell them on their first call or first visit what documents are required for each university and country so that they apply well ahead of deadlines and not waste money on failed applications.

I can pay the application fee later

Some students might ignore the application fee while submitting their applications. But, this's a blunder that they make. If you don’t pay the application fee upfront, there are high chances that your application might get rejected, though you submit all documents to the university.

I don’t need to show a proof of my liquid funds

It doesn’t matter if you have adequate funds to support your studies or if you’re going to study through a scholarship. You must get a letter from the bank stating that you’ve adequate liquid funds to support your tuition and living costs abroad.

The bank letter acts as a validation of your honest reasons behind studying abroad; it also proves how serious you’re about your education.

I don’t need any external advice

You may think that you can do it all by yourself, but at times you might get lost with certain things and might want some support. When you come to us, our counsellors ensure that they are with you till the end. They guide you not only with the first steps of your university applications abroad, but also with visas and pre-departure information.

I’ve enough loan

Because you’ve applied for an education loan, it doesn’t mean that you should rely only on that particular source of fund for your education. You must have additional funds with you to support your other expenses. We’ll tell you about the possible expenses you can have when you choose to study overseas.

I’ve my relatives abroad, so it makes my study easier

This’s a big mistake that many students make. They think that since their relatives have been living in the country [where they plan to study] for the past X years, it should be easy for them to get a study visa or depend on them for migration.

A study visa is your passport to higher education abroad, and it has nothing to do with your family connections that you may have in the country. A visa officer will give preference to your ability to stay independently and support yourself during your stay. 

The best way to avoid such mistakes is to speak to our counsellors who’ll guide you with study visas and how to attempt visa interviews.

I’ll get a job anyway

The charm of getting an international degree is alluring and it, indeed, draws many students to explore opportunities that aren’t available in their native country. Doing so, you might be lured into making a wrong choice.

If your aim is to see yourself working after completing your degree from a university abroad, chances are you would want to study a course that helps you get a job.

Once you analyse all your options, you might want to cut down a few courses from the list you made earlier because not every course will be worth spending money on.

Here you must be cautious and work smart.

I don’t follow rules

The country that you choose isn’t your native country so, undoubtedly, you’ll have to abide by its social norms. There could be strict punishments for indulging in any activities that are criminalised or for breaking local laws of the country where you study.

Since you’re going to have a lifetime opportunity, which will stay with you for a long run, it’s advisable that you must be free to mingle with new minds around you and exchange ideas.

Don’t let fear or anxiety rule your decisions and make your journey miserable for you. And don’t carry any baggage with you or any bitter experience from your past. This’s your time, so make good use of it. Now that you know the common mistakes that most students make when planning to apply for their education abroad, are you going to repeat it? If you still have questions, you can speak to our education counsellors.