Want to Study Abroad? Check This First!

Have you thought about studying abroad? If you are thinking of enrolling in a university abroad, you might be wondering about several things. What are the benefits of studying abroad? Does the benefit you get from paying more to learn in another country worth it? How about the student loan and scholarship?

Do you want to know about the experience of studying abroad firsthand? If so, do not forget to give like ❤️👍 this post and subscribe 🔔 It will help the channel grow! Also, feel free to share this link with anyone planning to go abroad, too! ✍️

Have you done it? Thank you! Now without further ado, let's get right into the tips!

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I studied domestically in Indonesia for my 12-year mandatory schooling years until my bachelor's degree graduation. Nevertheless, I now choose to enroll in one of the American universities for my master's degree in andragogy 📖✍️ Why do I change my mind and prefer studying abroad rather than choosing local institutions instead? There are several things that I have been carefully considering before making the change.

Here are three things that I consider before I choose to study abroad.

1. What are the Benefits of Studying Abroad?

One of the advantages of learning abroad is embracing diversity. I could meet and interact with people from other countries whose mindsets and cultures are different from mine and come from various skin colors, appearances, and styles. Learning how to be non-racist and having a truly open mindset that respects differences are crucial in living and working with other people, no matter where we are and what we do.

Another benefit will be to push our limit further. When I studied English locally, I thought I was good enough. Little that I know, my English was just so-so. However, after I tried learning English abroad, I started picking up natural phrases and accents, thus making my English better. Nowadays, I can teach my ESL students much better than I did previously, even when most of my students thought of me as a native English speaker. The same also goes with my research paper in university; it was too theoretical when I studied domestically, but I got a chance to do more hands-on practice when I started studying abroad. I am pushed past my comfort zone to lead group work projects, make peer assessments, and do field research by interviewing strangers. The different learning approach has helped me be a more knowledgeable learner than I was.

2. Does Studying Abroad Worth It?

Yes, it is! However, bear in mind that studying abroad can be expensive unless you get a scholarship. Depending on the currency, the amount of money you need to pay for studying abroad can be double or triple the amount you should pay if studying domestically. Furthermore, studying abroad will not be worth it if you do not understand the language. You can do these three things below to make your study abroad more worthwhile.

First, think about your budget wisely and research trustworthy sources about the total amount of payment that you have to pay before you graduate. Calculate carefully, how much money will you need for your education until you can start receiving a salary? Can you afford healthy food and safe housing as your accommodation abroad while paying that much tuition? It is true that the more skills you have, the better you will perform at work. And if you hone your skills at a foreign university, there is a higher chance of getting a raise. If you can't afford it, there's no need to push yourself and reduce your health or safety to get an education abroad at a lower price.

Second, make sure that your major is already what you like to do or are passionate about. If you are not good enough in that subject, it is better to take a domestic cram school or an online crash course before immersing yourself in that major in university. Remember that universities mainly honed your existing skills, not making them exist first! When you try to learn a new skill at university, you may fall behind your peers who have already mastered the skill and are just refining it. In falling into this trap, you can feel depressed and regret your decision to study abroad. Still, since you already spent a lot of money on it, you think you cannot back out, so you force yourself to keep going even though you are unhappy.

Third, make sure the amount of money you put in as a learning modal is the amount you will get as your salary once you graduate. For example, among early-career grads, engineering accounted for nine of the top ten best-paying degrees with an average salary of $74,000, while early childhood education was at the bottom of the list with a salary of $44,000 (Coogan, 2017). On the other hand, the average total cost of university tuition for engineering ranges from $50.000 - $65.000, depending on the university and the studying location (study offline or online). Not to mention dormitory, accommodation, and other fees to pay. Your skill level and type should be coherent with the job market because, after all, that's what determines how much money you'll get back and when you get them.

3. How to Avoid the Pitfalls?

There are three pitfalls to studying abroad. First, people who study abroad tend to fall into an expensive student loan that eventually becomes stressful debt. Second, people who studied abroad and got entangled in massive student loans tend to put a high fee on themselves, making companies unwilling to pay for their labor in their original country. Third, it might uproot us from our traditional cores and identities as we become more international.

“You graduate from college with dreams for the future. Sadly, most of your aspirations will turn to ashes. I don’t want to demoralize you, but you might as well hear the truth: When you acquire the possessions you covet, if you acquire them, and when you achieve the successes you pursue, if you achieve them, they won’t satisfy you. Instead, at those very moments when you would expect to be reveling in triumph, you will feel empty rather than fulfilled, depressed rather than elated, agitated rather than peaceful.” - Bill Reel (Awake!, 1987)

According to a poll, 31% of 1.8 million undergraduate students in UK institutions, with about 10,000 participating in the Student Academic Experience Survey, concluded that their university courses are of low or inferior value, up from 29% the previous year (Kanert, 2020). Another research by the Institute for Fiscal Studies in England indicated that 20% of individuals who went to university would have had 20% more money if they had not enrolled once taxes and study fees were taken into account (Meech, 2020). Simply put, do not let financial issues burden your study abroad! How?

First, try getting a scholarship. It can be either a full scholarship or a half scholarship. Make sure what comes with the scholarship. What is the catch? For example, is there any regulation that you have to pay the money back once you have graduated by working in a particular institution? Or do you have to get a certain CGPA to retain the scholarship?

Second, check if the major you aim for has an online or distance learning option. Studying online is much cheaper than studying physically, as you can study from the comfort of your own home without having to pay for additional accommodation or transport fees. If you still live with your parents, you do not even have to worry about meals! Also, if you worry about having a lousy association or simply being introverted, studying online also gives you a safer option to learn abroad without putting yourself in concerns.

Third, consider getting a part-time or full-time job while studying abroad. Try getting a part-time or full-time job that rhymes with your study major for extra cash! That way, after graduation, you can have a good amount of experience in that field already. For instance, when I studied for my bachelor's, I could get paid by working a full-time job as an assistant teacher in a school and tutoring in a cram school. Now, as a master's degree student, I do full-time work in L&D and part-time employment in an ESL institution.

To sum up, studying abroad can be of enormous benefit for you. However, to ensure that you benefit from studying abroad, do extensive research about what you want and where you would like to learn. Moreover, before deciding to study what major to pursue, be wise and carefully weigh the pros and cons. You are the one who knows yourself best, so take into consideration what it will take from your life as well as what it can provide. Do not regret your decision to study abroad halfway, as it will be hard to start all over again!

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References

Awake! JW. (1987) College education—A preparation for what? Jw.org; WOL. https://bit.ly/3FKYo6M

Coogan, R. (2017). Postgraduate and early career—Times Higher Education (THE).

Meech, H.J. (2020) The university is a bad deal for one in five students. New York Times.

‌Kanert, M. (2020). 31% of UK students say university is not good value. Top Universities.