Mystory@Uditi Mittal: How I chose my course and college to study abroad

I took up Psychology in XI grade and from then on I decided that this is the field for me. What interested me the most about Psychology was the fact that I could relate to everything that I studied. Apart from this, I have always felt like I am a person who had the will to help people out whenever they needed it and what a perfect ground it would be for me to enhance that skill into a life goal. Psychology became part of my life. Whether it was through any theory or any experimental study, I could gain a good understanding of the subject. Most importantly, I always found that I had an innate curiosity about human behaviour that was matched well by choosing to study Psychology.

I decided to pursue my bachelors in Dubai from Middlesex University. It was a British university, I decided to make a shift from the Indian system to the British system to gain a more practical understanding of this subject. I decided to go to UK to pursue MSc Clinical Psychology from Kingston University, London as UK is a known destination for international students. Moreover, I wanted to do a specialization in Clinical Psychology so going up to UK would mean better career opportunities in the future.

How I cracked college admission

As I mentioned before, I shifted from the Indian system to the British mode of study so there were no entrance exams to be given. The intensity of the competitive exams of Europe is much less as compared to India. However, to get into a good university I had to get a very high grade. My admission for my bachelors was based on my 12th board marks CBSE. The admission criteria for my masters was based on my marks in Bachelors of Psychology from Middlesex University, Dubai.

I gave IELTS. The verbal and listening ability test was mainly concentrated on Scottish accent although I did have an option of choosing German. I didn’t go for any coaching classes pertaining to IELTS. It was done on my own. Mostly these tests aim to determine the verbal ability of the person and if they are capable of being able to cope up with the education there. I did try out other universities within UAE itself but I felt that Europe would offer more chances of taking my career to the next step. I was adamant not to study in India although many of my relatives, friends and family did insist on it.

What I gained from my college experience

I have always worked or done small internships alongside my studies. I am able to manage both as my work experiences have always counted towards my studies as it is all about gaining practical experience. My college’s teachings have always helped as I could apply the skills I learnt through assignments such as team-work, organisational skills, research skills, and communication skills and apply them in the work place. I have always been good at managing time, I feel what works for me is that I am able to create a schedule. I plan my weekly activities and to avoid burn-out I always make sure to keep some spare time where I can engage in any sort of recreational activity. I stayed in Kingston, which is the suburb of London. And during the weekends I made it a point to explore the city. Train travels were the best where I could just be lost in the scenery and people around.

Our classes were held 2-3 times a week. And this gave a lot of time to do a lot of other activities. Getting a job to support oneself was something the college required but not insisted us to do as it would give a whole lot more perspective and experience on how to stand on your own feet although the part time jobs were nothing related to the course. During the end of the course, I did visit a lot of clinics and children’s wards to have an exposure to the work I was meant to do.

People in the UK are much more polite than the people I have met in India and UAE. They all greet each other with “You alright?”. I’m a docile person by nature but being there made me feel like I had a loud personality. Studying in Kingston did expose me to a lot of traits I myself didn’t know I possessed.

About the Author:          

My name is Uditi Mittal, born and brought up in UAE. I pursued my bachelors in Psychology before completing my post-graduation in Clinical Psychology. My hobbies and interests are quite varied, I believe in doing anything that gives me a sense of satisfaction and leaves me in a state of happiness. This includes reading, watching movies, listening to music, and travelling.

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