6 Tips for Preparing Study Abroad

As parents, papa and mama definitely want to give the best for the future of their baby. Including the desire of children to study abroad. Studying abroad in today’s context is not only about prestige and the quality of education, but also provides a multicultural experience which is very important for a child’s mindset and also trains maturity and independence. These two things are very important not only for a child’s future career, but also important for practicing various  soft skills  that are not taught in school. These soft skills  are in the form of how to communicate, time management, making decisions, how to deal with problems, and so on.

 Then what should dad and mom prepare so that children get valuable experience? Here are some tips on preparing children to study abroad so that all of Papa and Mama’s plans go well. 

1. Prepare Education Fees 

Tuition fees abroad, especially in developed countries, are usually more expensive than tuition fees at home. For this reason, there are several things related to college financing for children. Some questions about tuition fees that must be answered first are:

  1. How much do you have to pay for tuition  fees ?
    It must be understood that the amount of tuition fees per year varies and also with the shifts in currency exchange rates that occur every day. Tuition fees in certain countries such as Singapore, the Netherlands and France have different tuition fees for local and foreign students. 
  2. What are the costs to be paid for living expenses  (living allowance) ?
    The cost of living can differ between cities within a country. So it is important for parents to predict which university their child will go to. The cost of living basically has to meet 3 components: clothing, food and shelter. 
  3. How much is the inflation in education costs and living costs per year?
    Annual inflation in normal circumstances is in the range of 5-7%. However, at a certain period of time, economic shocks can occur which can change the value of this inflation. For that, choose investment instruments that are suitable and resistant to inflation. 
  4. How long will it take to meet these costs?
    If papa and mama’s children are still small, then the time that papa and mama have will be quite long. For that, project needs early on. 
  5. What investment instruments are suitable for preparing for the costs above?
    Investments that are safe and resistant to economic shocks can be in the form of gold, stocks, mutual funds, bonds, insurance, and so on. Choose according to the needs of papa and mama, OK? 

Papa and mama can also consider that their children can look for scholarships that can cover the entire cost of education. If papa and mama have been able to identify the answers to the questions above, then now is the time to focus on the next tip, which is to focus on the child’s potential and desires.

2. Recognize Children’s Potential and Desires

Open the faucet of communication openly with children. In this way, it will be easier to recognize the child’s potential and desires for the future. Direct it, don’t force the wishes of papa and mama. If the child doesn’t know yet, invite him to discuss and find out where his interest lies. 

Papa and mama can also consult with educational psychologists who can provide  hints  on where the child’s potential lies. It is important for dad and mom to tell the descriptions, advantages and disadvantages of each study program at the university so that children can consider their own wishes. 

3. Find a Suitable Campus 

Many  platforms  provide information regarding descriptions and comparisons between campuses. For that, be diligent in finding out and matching the wishes of children with the appropriate campus. Apart from that, it is also important to find a campus with a good reputation for graduates so that your children can get jobs in a short time.

4. Know the Requirements for Registration on Overseas Campuses

Registration requirements are generally listed on the campus registration page. Campuses usually ask student candidates to attach original documents and copies, along with their legalization. Make sure papa and mama are familiar with the requirements asked for, how to get them, how long the validity period is, and in which agency can legalize these documents. 

5. Fulfill Campus Registration Requirements 

Several requirements such as English proficiency certificates, SAT, GRE, GMAT test scores, and so on require preparation to obtain them. Therefore, it is important for papa and mama to know what are the requirements that must be met and how long it takes to prepare for them so they can register for college on time.

6. Register with SAA Schoters

In order for the preparation of documents and interviews to run easily and smoothly, it is highly recommended to join the Study Abroad Academy (SAA) at Schoters! The SAA program offers a variety of services that can help papa and mama’s children prepare for various college registration requirements as well as prestigious scholarships offered by the government, institutions and universities. Some of the services offered are:

  1. Get the right university, major, and scholarship information for the candidate
  2. Receive feedback on writing the required documents for scholarship registration
  3. Have the opportunity to practice in preparation for college interviews abroad
  4. Accompanied by a tutor who will help prepare for study abroad with the  1-on-1 tutoring method
  5. Campus & Scholarship Registration Preparation from start to finish