Make a wise 'study abroad' decision.

Admission rush is behind us now. Those who have secured places in preferred colleges and courses deserve to be commended. And those who have been prudent enough not to have rushed into  that seemingly  'attractive' foreign University taking on the burden of a bank loan deserve even richer compliments. Especially those that have not been lured into lofty claims and promises made by mediocre institutions that fail to deliver.

One can't merely blame students for succumbing to the temptation of a foreign degree, 'any' foreign degree. Parents are equally to blame and come admission time, the only target seems to be to board that flight to a foreign destination, irrespective of the merits of the chosen institution, the worthiness of the qualification or the costs involved.  And today, with media, new media and social media vying for the attention of the admission-seeking crowd, it is hard not to fall for the bait. Unfortunately, more than a reasonable number of students get disappointed and feel short-changed once the first flush of the admission rush is behind them and an uncertain future riddled with financial burdens looms ominously.

Studying abroad is indeed a very attractive proposition and could take a student's life and career to greater heights. However, a poorly researched venture could only end in failure and disappointment.
It is very commonplace to hear of students taking on loans and pledging their homes for the chance to study abroad only to end up in a place that is far below expectation. Decisions based merely on attractive advertisements and easily-granted student places are especially risky. With a plethora of information available on accreditations, rankings etc, there is no reason why an informed decision cannot be made. Also, it is far better to wait out a year and research for scholarships rather than rush into taking on huge financial burdens and starting off one's career with a liability. It should not be forgotten that educational institutions are also in the business of generating revenue and often in vie with each other to secure students. While education fairs are a very useful source for information, decisions made in haste may often have dire consequences. Likewise, students also need to be informed about the country and exact location of the institution they are considering. Immigration policy, job opportunities after completion of course, student work hours and opportunities, accommodation, security, life-style, culture are all very important considerations.

If you are at the threshold of making your study abroad decision, now is the time to weigh all alternatives. If you can work for a scholarship, it will definitely be worth your while. If your scores are holding you down, don't settle for any institution that will have you – work at improving your scores instead. If you have to take on a huge financial burden just to get that foreign degree, take up a job for a few years instead and earn your way abroad.

Don't be myopic, always look at the bigger picture!