10 questions to ask yourself before you go study abroad

'Know Yourself' is the key to success and is applicable in all walks of your life. In order to present yourself before the admissions committee of your dream college, being aware of who you are as a person plays one of the most important roles. We have listed below 10 questions to ask yourself before you go study abroad. Check them out, be honest with yourself, and figure out who you really are.

Are you considering studying abroad? Or have you already made up your mind about it? One of the biggest misconceptions about studying abroad is that the most difficult stage of the whole process starts after landing in your chosen study abroad destination country. In reality, the most difficult stage is the ‘decision phase’; the initial confusion whether you are ready and fit to study abroad and deal with all the hardships that would follow.

To help you get over this stage quickly, we have compiled a list of a few questions you need to ask yourself (and your family as well) before making any decision. These will help you consider the broader issues faced by study abroad aspirants and decide whether you are really ready to take this step or not.

• What are your career goals? – Are you looking to pursue a career which is relatively unheard of in India? Or you are running away from India because you couldn’t clear the entrance exams and didn’t get through the institutes here? Keep in mind that going abroad is not the best escape route as all the colleges in the world expect you to perform well. Consider going abroad only if you are very clear about your career goals and are pursuing a worthwhile course. Going to the UK to study an English language course is not going to do much to your career and life goals.
• Can you live away from your family for two to four years? – This question is important not only from the emotional aspect but from practical aspect as well. Indian students usually live in their parents’ house and are not used to taking care of a household. Budgeting, household chores, cooking food, cleaning up after themselves are just a few things we aren’t great at because usually, these are the parents’ responsibilities. You will have no choice but to do all these things by yourself in the foreign land because labour is not cheap in most of the foreign countries, which means you will not be able to hire a housemaid. Make sure you are prepared to work hard at college and at home as well.

• What will be the total cost? – Research the expected amount of tuition fees, insurance costs, accommodation rents, cost of living, transportation, leisurely activities etc. Then figure out how you will come up with the money required. No one has this big an amount in their bank account; almost everyone takes student loans to fund their international education. Those who don’t, need to show sufficient balance in their bank account plus investments in immovable property and Fixed Deposits. Find out the scholarships available and apply.
• Do you know the course requirements? – if you are considering studies in the US, then you need a total of 13 years of schooling before you can apply for a UG course. This means you will have to do a yearlong diploma or certificate course to complete the compulsory 13 years of education. Does your course require you to appear for exams like GMAT, GRE or language exams? If yes, then you need to prepare for these exams like you would for Indian entrance exams. Make sure you fulfill the basic requirements before you consider applying for the course.
• Are you willing to experiment with food? – Of course, you will not be able to get home cooked meals three times a day. Since you will be living in a new country, you will have to adapt to the local culinary tastes. Apart from US or UK, the local foods of other countries are unheard of by most Indians. Indian spices may not be easily available at local grocery stores, so cooking Indian meals at home is not an option for every day. Also, you will have to pick out food items according to your religious beliefs as pork and beef are very common meat items in the western countries. Vegetarians need to be even more careful as veggie food preparations are difficult to come by in certain countries and cultures.
• How open are you to new culture and people? – Western culture is perceived to be more open and demonstrative, but it may not be the truth once you experience things yourself.  You will have to research a lot about the country’s culture first and adjust your expectations accordingly. Are you open to learning a new language? Are you good at making new friends with a different lifestyle than yours? How open are you to opinions radically different than yours? Living in a new culture will make you question your judgments and assumptions about the world and human behaviour. If you are ready to learn from this new exposure to make yourself more accepting and liberal, only then should you go ahead with studying abroad. If you cannot respect differences among different sets of people, then you shouldn’t make life harder by exposing yourself to so many varieties.

• Will your degree be recognized by institutes and employers in India? – A lot of diplomas or one-year degrees aren’t recognized by Indian employers, which means if you come back to India to work you may not land the best jobs in spite of having the best education. Research the affiliations and accreditation of the prospective institutes to make sure the degree you will be earning after graduation will be worthwhile and profitable.
• Are you fascinated only by the glamorous lifestyle and prestige a foreign degree will bring? – If yes, then the best thing to do would be to travel the country as a tourist and not a student. If you think that a typical American university life is all about partying and getting drunk then you are wrong. Grades and credits are given supreme importance in universities across the globe. If you fail to measure up to the expected performance level you may be taken off the enrollment list. Studying in a foreign country may be a matter of pride for your family, but not being able to maintain the high-performance levels may become a cause of humiliation for you later.
• Do you have family or friends residing in the country? – If it is your first time travelling to the country, it is advisable you know a couple of local contacts. In case of an emergency, local contacts may prove to be invaluable. These people might help you find the best accommodation and help you familiarise with the local customs, dos and don’ts etc. You will be required by the university to provide the number of a local guardian in case of an emergency. Make sure you know at least a few trustworthy people in the country.
• Do you want to be an expert in your field? – This should be the real reason behind considering going abroad. If you want to gain expertise in your field, do research, apply these new methods to make a difference, then, by all means, go ahead and submit that application form. The real motive behind going to a new country should be to go there as a genuine learner and learn as much as you can. To meet new people and learn something from each one of them, and applying those learning to grow as a human is a real reason why anyone should study abroad.