What do you need to prepare before embarking on your education overseas?
“If You Fail to Plan, You Plan to Fail.”
I am sure you heard of this many times.
There are so many things to prepare. I have listed five below that I feel will be useful for you to get prepared so that you will have a fantastic start to your study abroad journey.
Item 1.
Make sure to check your passport and travel documents
Have you heard of friends or family forgetting to renew their passport? Don’t be next. Check your passport to ensure your passport has at least 6 months validity. Countries have differing visa policy so make sure you apply for the appropriate visa. Always bring along relevant original documents during the travel. If possible, store a copy of all documents in an easily accessible electronic device e.g. laptop, mobile or thumb drive. It might come in handy. Be independent and responsible for your own things. Handle your own documents, even if you might be travelling with next-of-kin e.g. parents for that matter. Trust me, it will be a necessary skill for you to survive as a student.
Item 2.
Arrange for a suitable accommodation and transportation.
I will advise you to stay in the hostel provided by the universities if you do not have any friends or relatives in the host country. This will help you familiarize yourself the local custom, culture and language. Preferably, the hostel is nearby the campus or is located on campus itself. If not, you will have to plan your walking, cycling or transportation routes. For students who have the means to purchase a commercial vehicle, I will not recommend them to do so immediately. Take local transportation initially while carefully observing the driving routes. It is wiser to also use a little bit of time to familiarize yourself with local regulations for drivers before hitting the roads. Safety always comes first especially no matter where you are.
Item 3.
Get yourself a WIFI-enabled device for communication
During the old days where Internet and cellphone are non-existent, we have to make calls using a payphone. It can be really bothersome when we have to queue up for a long time just to make a call back home. At present times, I will strongly recommend students to get in place at least a mobile phone installed with Internet Telephony apps such as Skype or Wechat. Get yourself a cheap and reliable local Internet plan from the local telecommunication provider, if not you can always gain access to the Internet by using free WIFI locations on campus usually available in the library or common spaces. Of course, nothing stops you from using the trustworthy methods of the good old day through a landline or mobile networks. If possible, get an international calling card that will allow you to make most of your call hours. Well, at least, you will never have to experience standing in the queue like I use to.
Item 4.
Prepare your luggage checklist in advance
You are probably thinking of your favourite food, clothing, shoes, electronic devices e.g camera, computer or calculator, and even cooking ingredients. My advice: Travel Light!
Think and plan carefully. Don’t bring your whole house with you. You will suffer for it by dragging your luggage(s) around like a fool.
Food. Will you be cooking in the coming weeks? Unlikely. You might pack a few packets of snacks or cooking ingredients but you are not likely to be bringing with you a cooking pan or wok. Check around for a local supermarket and quickly familiarize yourself with the surrounding. You will be able to get most of household items from the supermarket. Items such as tooth brush, tooth paste, detergent etc.
Clothing. Be pragmatic. Bring enough. Weather should play a big part in your decision. More likely, you will end up having more clothing than not when you return from your study overseas.
Medicine. Find out beforehand where you can find a doctor or a pharmacist. Don’t wait till the last moment as more often than not, when you need a doctor you don’t know where to find them. Make sure to bring along some paracetemol (Panadol) for fever and pain relief. Use them only when feeling unwell.
Item 5.
Mental Preparation (I.e. Grow Up)
Please read research article titled “International Student’s Challenge and Adjustment to College” [https://www.hindawi.com/journals/edri/2015/202753/].
Always remember. Regardless of the circumstances you may be in, when you get into an education institution, don’t waste your time or money. Just do it, make sure you get in and come out graduating. It will be the greatest service to no one else but your self. However, having said that, all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. During this time, make many friends, new ones and good ones. Trust me again. When you go out to the real world, making friends will not come easy. Do not miss this chance. Even if you are an introvert, take this opportunity, while you are away from home to break away from your usual self. Experience another side to life! Also, never live in isolation. Staying in the hostel might just be the greatest start. You might move into an apartment with a group of close friends whom you got to know. Make sure also to get into the community spirit, be confident and make time to participate in activities besides class related ones.
I hope the above has given you a better insight into studying abroad and allowed you to prepare better for your next phase in life. Make good of your overseas study to make friends. Go there with an open mind to learn from a different culture by mixing with the locals. I haven’t mention this earlier but do make sure to budget well and manage your finances prudently. This will be a crucial step to train yourself for the bigger things in life when you start making money after you graduate.
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By Mark Chua
Director
Global Study Abroad
Mark Chua is the Director and Founder of Global Study Abroad. He obtained his MBA from the University of Manchester, UK. Over the years, Mark Chua had been shuffling his time studying and working in around the world in countries such as Australia, United Kingdom, USA, China and Singapore. Mark Chua is also the Director of University Partnership for the East Asia Institute of Management (EASB) in Singapore who has successfully partnered with universities from United Kingdom, United States and Australia.