Studying abroad has been a hot topic in the recent years with reports claiming that by 2025, Indian students and their families will spend over USD 70 billion for an education abroad. While the numbers are promising, there ls definitely a downside of studying abroad.
Let’s explore some potential downsides of studying abroad and the ways to overcome that.
Culture
Students going to a new country sometimes find it tough to adjust to the ‘foreign’ culture. New places, new people, new way of living can sometimes take a toll. Added to that there is always an iota of racism involved. When I say racism, please do not take it in negative sense. Racism is just an insensitivity to other cultures or races. When we grow up in a certain culture and do not get exposed to other cultures, we tend to have negative connotations of other cultures.
Pro Tip: Go with an open mind and always be true to your identity. Always remember, people make the culture and not the other way. Try to learn about prejudices someone might have about you and try to have discussion around that.
Cost
Cost is a big factor when deciding to move abroad, So if your finances do not allow it, there is no point stretching yourself beyond your means and taking excessive loans on parents property. Most of the students are able to repay the study loans, but there are some students who find it hard to get jobs and the pressure to repay loans is too much, It often leads the students to illegal activities for the sake of easy money. In Canada, many students have been implicated in car robberies, is such an example. Please remember, any illegal activity can result in your deportation and all your hard work will go to waste.
Pro Tip: Do a proper cost vs benefit analysis, when deciding to pursue study abroad, Research the labor market and have a realistic expectations. If you need to take a loan, please understand the repayment terms properly and have a strategy in place. Do look for University and private scholarships to h
elp fund your study.
Food
One of the biggest issues that the students face, is a lack of food options, especially for vegetarians. Many students have told me that they had to survive on Maggi or salad. Added to that, there is a social pressure associated with being a vegetarian in a meat eating culture. Many cannot eat meat because they do not like eating animals, while there are religious issues for others. There are many cultures, where the concept of vegetarian food itself does not exist.
Pro Tip: Research the food available in the area w/here you plan to go. Lean cooking before leaving home, so that you can survive by cooking food yourself and save money. This is very important to boys especially, as they are not taught cooking in many Asian cultures. \
Loneliness
Most of the students that we have come across, have been out of their homes for the first time. So definitely they feel lonely and yearn for that love and affection that they were accustomed to in their home. Loneliness is one the biggest reasons of depression seen in the students. This loneliness can turn deadly if not taken care of. Introverts often have the biggest problem in this area. We have to understand, most of the western cultures take pride in their personal life and privacy. So it is not uncommon to find that western students do not easily become friends with us.
Pro Tip: Mingle with other students, especially from your area, state or country, Try to indulge in fun activities and keep your goal clear. Always remember, it was your decision to some to foreign shores for a better life. Own that decision and try to make the most of your stay.
We have discussed some of the common issues that the International students face. Please make sure that you have a proper strategy before coming abroad. As an International study counsellor, I feel it is my duty to make people aware of the common pitfalls and the ways how they can avoid the same.
Contact us to start your study abroad journey with the utmost confidence!