My Science School

Ideally, you should start inquiring about the right university for your subject choice at least 10 to 12 months before the commencement of the session. Since you are planning to go to a distant land, you should not hurry zeroing in on a particular university. Ascertaining the credentials of a university from expatriate contacts, representatives of different countries and other sources will be the first step, which will take some time. During this period, you should also strengthen your case by appearing for different tests required by foreign universities, like TOEFL, SAT, GRE, etc. Your next step will be to procure application forms from that university, fill it properly (and get all the documents mentioned on the form), send it to the university and wait for the response. Once the international students’ office of that university is satisfied about your credentials, it will send you the admission notice. Once you get it, apply for a student’s visa to the concerned embassy, again a time-consuming process.

 

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Student do feel intimidated by the thought of landing in an alien land. Most institutes have an airport welcome arrangement. A representative of the institutes receives the student from the airport and then takes him to the university and the temporary accommodation, ensuring that students feels at home. Then there is the international office that assists students in finding appropriate accommodation, providing details on relative costs. The international office helps the foreign student get in touch with fellow students keen to share accommodation. The change in study patterns would need some preparation. Foreign universities expect students to be analytical in their approach.

Instead of just applying formulae and information, you will be expected to reason out and come up with a theory of your own. Critical thinking and questioning is appreciated, unlike in India where reproduction of classroom lectures could also fetch your marks.

Zero in on an institute with tremendous caution. Select an accredited institute. Check its credentials and performance in the subject of your choice. See if you can afford the costs involved.

 

Picture Credit: Google