First Steps to Study Abroad

Posted on by daphnepaget

Studying Abroad 101

Planning and applying to study abroad can feel daunting. However here are the keys to finding your school/university, choosing your course and planning your move.

Decide On A Country
This may sound basic, but it’s so important. Factures to consider are:
What language do they speak?
What’s the culture like?
Do you know anyone there, have useful contacts?
I love China, have been their many times however I don’t speak Chinese and couldn’t live there. So choosing your country is very important.

Choose Your Course
A lot of people go straight to the university/school, however the reason you are going abroad is to study. This is laying the foundations for your future career, so choose something you are interested in, will enjoy but is also useful for your future career (no pressure).

Research
Research university’s/schools offering your desired course. Lots of this can be done online, however most universities have representative abroad, so find out where your nearest representative is. This could make your application process a lot easier.

Application
Follow instructions, ask for help if needed and try not to get frustrated. This for me was the hardest bit, but as I said I found a representative who made the process much easier.

Respond to Offer
Receiving your offer is great, but that’s not the process over. You’ll need to send in your deposit (if required) and sign any documents. You may have been given an offer but you want to secure that place straight away.

Daphne x

Deciding to Study Abroad

Posted on by daphnepaget

21st DECEMBER 2016

In January 2017 I am going to the Gold Coast, Australia to study at Bond University. A big move for the home loving girl from London! So here are a few of the reasons that helped me decide to study abroad.

Adventure

This may be an odd reason, but am a firm believer in having adventures while you can. I’m 20, have no responsibilities, no commitments and a supportive family. So why not go on an adventure and have a life experience while I still can.

Talking to Others

In the summer, I visited a close friend who is studying in America. This gave me an insight into what it’s like living and studying abroad. I spent hours talking to her about what it’s like, does she miss home, how she copes in certain situations. Overall after that trip I knew I wanted to study abroad. So connect with others studying overseas,

Know Where You Want to Go

Even though I was inspired to study abroad in America, I knew I wanted to go to Australia. I had been there on a three month exchange when I was fifteen and instantly loved it. The people were so friendly, the lifestyle so healthy and chilled, I loved it.

Knowing Its Not Forever

Now however long you are planning on studying abroad, a big thing to remember is its not forever. So often people are blind sighted by the ‘all or nothing’ way of thinking. ‘I’m moving away, I’ll never see my family again’. This is not true, nothing is forever, especially not studying, my course is only two years, if I hate every second (which is the wrong mind set to have anyway) it will be over in two years and I can come home. And if you think that the average person lives to the age of seventy, two years isn’t a very long time.

I hope this helps you if your considering studying abroad.

Love Daphne x