If studying abroad is at the top of your priority list, then this article is for you.
Applying to study abroad is a great feat and should be applauded.
You are on the right track.
There are possibly a thousand and one things you could do right in your quest to study abroad. However, just a few mistakes could undermine your efforts and render your painstaking process inactive.
You see, some people have been made to believe that asking questions makes you stupid.
They hold on to the idea that voicing out their concerns will make them appear uninformed and that somehow translates into stupidity.
You really can not know everything.
Asking questions or seeking for answers show that you have a thirst for facts.
People will naturally be drawn to help you. Asking the right questions actually prove that you are intelligent and want to be doused with knowledge.
Clinging to wrong information or to your own inadequate beliefs will inadvertently lead to several mistakes.
Mistakes which are 100% avoidable
Good thing you are reading this though, you would possibly be stimulated to ask the right questions at the end of the article.
When applying to study abroad you must never make mistakes:
1] Being Untimely
Paying no mind to time sensitive requirements is one way to confirm that village people have successfully accosted you.
It is unfortunately a very Nigerian thing to leave things for last minute.
If you plan to leave the country for greener pastures, ensure that you have all your documents ready beforehand.
Do not leave anything to chance.
Be incredibly orderly.
2] No proper research
Sometimes, in their quest to migrate, young people leave out the most important elements in their research.
You have to choose your destination carefully.
What informs your study abroad decisions?
Do you choose your preferred universities according to rankings? according to recognition? according to course availability? according to their graduate retention program?
These are questions you need to find answers to and decide for yourself if they perfectly align with your values.
Get expert advice from study abroad specialists that will guide you properly.
3] Extravagant spending
Spending!
Admittedly, when applying to study abroad, the fees are no small fry.
Tuition is not beans.
Living expenses too can be pretty expensive (Depending on the study destination and living location you must have chosen).
Read: 6 Young Nigerians Talk About Their First Time As International Students
However, you should pay mind to your finances and spend wisely.
Beware of institutions that will require huge sums of money to process an application with heavy promises and still not deliver.
Plan accordingly and calculate everything.
4] Quitting after a rejection
Sometimes after you have sent in your application with all the right documents you are still greeted with rejection mails.
It can really hurt.
However, you should not dally in the pain.
You should get up and push forward.
There are a million and one study destinations and schools that are begging to receive international students with several benefits attached.
5] Have zero backup plans
The saying if you fail to plan you are already planning to fail is valid.
When applying to study abroad, you should know that the venture, however secure is not just handed out to every Sola, Ebuka or Halima.
If for some reasons you are rejected, you should have a back up plan.
Do not exhaust all your actions on one option.
It is wise to have a couple of options to fall back on when your initial plans fall through.
