Potential Pitfalls of Choosing the Wrong International Institution to Study Abroad

Planning to study abroad? Sounds like a plan! But what if you choose the wrong university altogether and fall into a situation wherein you have to study in a location that does not match your aspirations? Check the list of possible consequences of choosing the wrong university to study abroad. 

Studying abroad can be a life-changing experience, offering opportunities for personal growth, cultural immersion, and academic advancement. However, selecting the right international institution is crucial to ensure a positive and fulfilling experience. Making the wrong decision in choosing your foreign university can lead to various pitfalls that may impact your academic goals, personal well-being, and future career prospects. 

In short, choosing the wrong university abroad or making the decision of choosing the abroad university hastily may cost you mentally, and financially and drought you of your chance of self-growth. For these reasons, choosing only the right education consultants to study abroad is crucial. In this article, we will explore some of the potential risks of choosing the wrong institution abroad and provide tips for making informed decisions towards the end.

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Consequences of Choosing the Wrong University Abroad

Here are some of the pitfalls of choosing the wrong university in a foreign country to study abroad:

1. Academic Mismatch

• Difficulty keeping up with Coursework: The academic rigour or teaching methods may be significantly different from what you are used to. For example, some countries emphasize independent study more than others, which can be challenging if you're accustomed to more structured learning environments. Additionally, if the courses are too challenging or do not match your prior knowledge, you may struggle to keep up and achieve satisfactory grades.

• Limited Relevant Course Options: If the institution you choose does not offer courses in your desired field or does not have the necessary resources, you may be unable to specialise in your area of interest. This is especially true for students with niche interests or those pursuing highly specialised fields.
• Non-transferable Credits: If studying abroad is a part of your academic program at your home institution, then, you must always check with your home institution about credit transfer policies before committing to a study abroad program. In some cases, courses taught in a foreign institution might not be recognised by your home institution, potentially extending your overall study time and increasing costs.

2. Cultural Shock and Isolation

Adjusting to a new culture and environment abroad can be challenging for some students which can manifest as feelings of disorientation, frustration, or homesickness. Here are details on the possible results of cultural incompatibility that results after choosing the wrong study-abroad institute:

• Culture Shock: It may be particularly severe if you have not researched the local culture thoroughly; or if you have chosen a location which differs vastly from your home country’s culture without proper preparation. 
• Social Isolation: If the campus culture or local social norms are very different from what you are used to, you might find it difficult to make friends or engage in social activities. This can lead to loneliness and negatively impact your overall experience of studying abroad.
• Lack of Cultural Integration Opportunities: If the institution you chose does not facilitate integration programs with the local students or the community, you might end up in an "expatriate bubble," and miss out on authentic cultural experiences and language learning opportunities.

3. Inadequate Support Services

The host university abroad plays a crucial role in the onboarding process of its international students. Universities abroad may help you with your visa and application process, housing and financial advice. In that case, lack of proper support for international students could result in:

• Visa and Immigration Issues: Without proper guidance, you might face difficulties navigating complex visa processes, potentially leading to legal issues or even deportation.

• Housing Problems: Lack of support in finding suitable accommodation can result in living situations that are unsafe, inconvenient, or financially burdensome.
• Limited Academic Advising or Career Services: This can hinder your ability to make informed decisions about your studies or future career, especially in the context of international opportunities.

4. Financial Strains or Hardships

It is obvious that you will check the costs associated with your program even if you make the decision to choose your university hastily. But what if there are some hidden costs that you were not aware of? Here is what unexpected costs or misunderstanding of the true expenses could lead to:

• Budget Shortfalls: Hidden costs like health insurance, local transportation, or required materials can quickly add up. Without proper financial planning, you might find yourself struggling to make ends meet in a foreign country.
• Need for Part-time Work: If financial aid is insufficient, you might need to find a job. This can be challenging due to visa restrictions (most countries only allow 20 hours of work per week during term time) and language barriers, and it may detract from your studies and cultural experiences.
• Premature Return: In worst-case scenarios, financial issues might force you to cut your study abroad experience short, resulting in incomplete studies and potential academic setbacks. You surely would not want that!

5. Safety Concerns

Going to study abroad comes with a lot of responsibility, one of which is taking care of oneself. Getting a good education abroad must not overshadow the importance of your safety. Here is what the lack of proper safety in a foreign country can do to you:

• Anxiety and Stress: Constant worry about personal safety can significantly detract from your academic studies and affect your performance and overall experience.
• Restricted Mobility and Exploration: Safety issues might limit your ability to fully explore your host country, reducing opportunities for cultural immersion and personal growth. You might not want to roam around in a city where you are scared of risking your safety.
• Health or Security Risks: Inadequate health services or political instability in the host country can also considerably pose serious risks to your well-being.

6. Limited Job Prospects and Networking Opportunities

Limited job prospects may be one of the results of a poorly connected institution abroad. Usually, universities abroad have a strong network of communities spread across the country or even in the world. If the institution you chose is not well-regarded by employers in your desired field, it may limit your opportunities for employment. Additionally, if the institution does not have a strong alumni network or career services, you may find it difficult to secure a job after graduation. Here is how a university that does not have a good network with industries, significant people or its own prestigious alumni may hamper your job prospects:

• Limited Alumni Network: A smaller or less active alumni network can mean fewer mentorship opportunities and reduced professional connections in your field of study.
• Reduced Professional Development: Lack of career fairs, industry talks, or professional workshops can hinder your career preparation for future career and industry insights.

7. Accreditation Issues

Studying at a non-accredited or poorly recognised institution could result in unrecognised degrees. Some employers or higher education institutes may not accept/recognise the degree you receive from less reputable or non-accredited colleges/universities abroad. This might affect your job or higher education prospects alongside wasting your precious time and resources that you spent on getting that degree. 

8. Language Barriers

If the primary language of instruction is far different from the languages that you already know, you might struggle to understand lectures, complete assignments, or participate in class discussions. For example, most Indian students have a good understanding of the English language, if not the overall proficiency, which helps them to understand the lectures. However, if more than 20% of the lectures in your foreign university are taught in German or Spanish, you may not get even a word from what is taught to you during your classes, if you do not have even a basic understanding of either of these languages. 

Language barriers may also alter your studying abroad experience. For example, it can make simple tasks like shopping, using public transportation, or accessing healthcare services challenging and stressful. Additionally, having a significant language barrier can affect your ability to make friends or participate in on-campus and cultural activities.

Check: 

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Tips for Choosing the Right University Abroad

If by now you have become really anxious about making a big decision which can either break your career aspirations, then, worry not. Here are some tips that will help you in choosing the right university in a foreign country. 

1. Choose the Right Study Abroad Counsellor: If you choose to hire a study-abroad consultancy service to help you make an informed decision, make sure you choose the right one. Here are a few things you must check in your consultancy before proceeding with them further:
   1. Look for its Industry Reputation: Many consultancy services are new in the market and thus do not have much of an established reputation. This may mean that even if they give you the wrong advice, they do not have much to lose. On the other hand, bigger and more established consultancies with good market reputations aim at improving your overall experience and making sure that you get exactly what you want. 
   2. Don’t go for False Promises: Fake promises of getting you into the best institutions in the world may sound exciting, right? However, getting to the top universities is not a child’s play. One must know that the best universities like Oxford University and Harvard University pose tough competition, so, anyone promising you a place may be lying. Check:How Universities 'Select' the Right Applicants 
   3. Urge to make Prompt Decisions: If the counsellor forces you to make payments or choose a university for fear of missing out on the application dates without giving you sufficient time to think, you may not be in good hands. Before making any decision, make sure you discuss it with your family and mentors as a big amount of money and a lot of your precious time is going to get involved and one such decision, if proven wrong later, can spoil all of that. Check: How Shiksha counsellors rate student chances of getting into a college abroad?
   4. Too many Promotional Emails or Calls: Back-to-back calls and emails with exciting offers even before you have finalised your decision on getting on with the consultancy may mean that the counsellor is in more haste than you. A good counsellor will understand your needs and match your eligibility with the best of the universities before promptly getting back to you with the list of universities. In many good cases, your counsellor may advise you on how you can meet the eligibility criteria for getting a good university. Check: Questions to ask your Study Abroad Consultant
2. Do Your Own Research: It is the most important step! Nobody understands your future and career aspirations more than you. So, after your consultancy suggests you some colleges and gives you an estimate, make sure you go through the university’s website yourself as well. Chances are that you find a better specialisation in the course, or you find a source of university funding. Check out the “Life as international students”, “communities”, “cost of living and Studying”, ”visa” and “Career Prospects” sections thoroughly.
3. Check the Reputation of the University’s Department Providing you the Course: You may check the qualifications and experience of the faculty members. The network of alumni may also be a good sign of commitment in the host institute’s concerned department of education.
4. Reach Out to the University: Communicate with the university counsellor and try to figure out what are the conditions and costs for the students of your country. Certain universities abroad have distinct offers in place for students of different nationalities. Make sure you are getting the best!
5. Choose a Budget and Stick to it: Surely studying abroad comes with good return on investment (ROI) by means of great jobs but until you get a good job, make sure you are not investing too much or all of your family’s wealth or are taking heavy loans. For that sake, discuss with your family and pick a suitable budget. Analyse all of the costs associated with studying abroad and make sure all of them are getting covered under your budget. Here are a few costs that you must add up for reference:
   1. University application fee
   2. Application Processing fee
   3. Visa fee
   4. Admission fee
   5. Standardised exams’ fees (IELTS/TOEFL/PTE/Duolingo, GMAT/GRE, SAT/ACT)
   6. Tuition fee (increases year on year)
   7. Accommodation fee
   8. Health insurance/surcharge fee
   9. Costs of basic needs (phone bills, groceries, daily commute, etc.)
   10. Cost of entertainment activities (travelling, eating out, partying, etc.)
   11. Costs of books and stationaries
   12. Miscellaneous costs
6. Talk to Your Friends or Relatives who have Studied Abroad: Reach out to your friends, relatives or anyone you know who is currently studying or has studied abroad. Ask them about their experience, how they did the research, how they selected the right country and university and lastly how they managed their funds and the visa and application process. You can also seek help from them to find suitable and affordable accommodation. This will give you a rough flow chart of the process of studying abroad and match that with your counsellors. 

Also Read: 

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Student Visa Guide for Study Abroad: Choose your country for higher studies	Eligibility Criteria to Study Abroad for Indian Students

This was all about the probable risks associated with choosing the wrong university to study abroad and tips for making the right decision. If you wish to get the right advice on studying abroad, then, you can get assistance from Shiksha Counselling Services for free. You can also drop your queries in the comments section below.