6 Common Myths About Study Abroad

 

1. A Low GPA?

One of the biggest concerns you might have before applying to study abroad is a low GPA.

Whether you are looking for undergraduate, master’s or PhD programmes, GPA, or proof of previous academic success, is often required by universities. The better the GPA is, the more likely you will be accepted. Therefore, a low, or not-so-good, GPA can make you hesitate about your study abroad plan.

But don’t despair just yet. As crucial as GPAs are, they don’t define you as a person and you can make up for a less than impressive score and still fulfil your dream of studying abroad.

Research colleges that accept a low GPA

When an admission committee decides whether to accept a student, it looks at factors other than GPAs. So do research and keep looking for programmes that interest you and don’t require a high GPA.

You might be surprised to find out how many universities accept low GPAs or even require no minimum GPA.

Write a strong personal statement

Your personal statement will be a good chance for you to explain why your previous academic performance is somewhat underwhelming and demonstrate your willingness to improve. Most importantly, do it honestly.

For example, if you have a low GPA because of your grades in science and you are applying to study religious studies abroad, you can highlight your performance in relevant subjects in your personal statement.

Apart from giving a genuine explanation of your low GPA, you can also underscore other aspects of your application, such as extracurricular activities, volunteering experience, work experience, etc. As long as they are relevant to the programme you are applying for or demonstrate desired traits, they can make your application stronger.

A well-written personal statement shows the admission board not only your ability to think critically and argue clearly but also your character and passion for the subject.

Ace other standardised tests

Some schools also require you to take standardised exams: GMAT, GRE, SAT or English language exams, such as IELTS.

Getting a good or near-perfect score can also help show your academic ability.

Apply for pathways instead

Pathway programmes give you a chance to study at renowned universities even if you have a low GPA. They are also an ideal alternative. Many world-famous schools offer various pathway programmes for different fields.

Do some research on pathway programmes and find the one that suits you best.

2. High University Fees and Living Costs in the UK?

Is it expensive to study in the UK? You might have heard that UK university fees and living expenses are just too high for international students and that studying in the US or other countries is more economical.

However, that is not true.

To study in the UK, you will need to spend:

UK university fees (per year): £10,000 to £38,000 (US$ 14,130 to US$ 53,700)

• Average UK living cost (per year): £12,200 (US$ 16,950)
• The total cost of studying in the UK (per year):  £22,000  to £40,000 (US$ 27,500 to US$ 50,000)

On the other hand, to study in the US, you will need to prepare for:

US university fees (per year):

• Public colleges: US$20,000-US$35.000
• Private colleges: US$35,000-US$50.000
• Average living cost in the US (per year):  US$10,000-US$12,000

 

The total cost of studying in the US:

• Public colleges: US$30,000-US$47.000
• Private colleges: US$45,000-US$62.000

While studying at public colleges in the US can sometimes be cheaper than studying in the UK per year, UK universities offer shorter programmes.

3. Brain Drain in the Country?

Study abroad agencies encourage students to pursue higher education overseas, which inevitably leads to talent deficit in the students’ home country.

This is certainly not the case.

According to statistics provided by the UK government, in the academic year 2018 to 2019, only 35% of students whose visas expired in 2019  were granted new visas and stayed in the UK.

The majority of the students who study abroad would leave after they finish their education. Therefore, studying abroad is not the cause of talent deficit.

On the contrary, students help their home country to advance by bringing back the knowledge and experience they gain while studying abroad.

4. One SOP for All Applications?

Most universities, regardless of the programme you are applying for, require you to submit a piece of writing called a statement of purpose (SOP) or personal statement. In this document, you need to detail your background, both academic and professional, and explain the reason why you are applying for the programme.

Since you are most likely applying to more than one university and almost all universities require SOP, you might think you can write one perfect SOP and use it for all the applications.

However, this is one of the most fatal mistakes you can make when applying to study abroad.

Your SOP, or personal statement needs to convince the admission committee that offering you a place in the programme will best benefit both the school and you. To do that, you need to customise your SOP for different universities as each school has different focuses.

5. Agencies are a waste of time?

Counsellors from study abroad agencies act as a bridge between students who want to study abroad and universities. While some consider they are redundant as nowadays students can get pretty much everything they want to know on the internet.

It is true that the internet allows students to gather the information they need, but agencies do much more than simply provide information.

With experienced counsellors and experts in overseas education, agencies also help students to create their study abroad plans based on their individual needs and background. Moreover, applying to study abroad requires students to keep track of different deadlines. If you are busy with work or study, an agency can act as your personal assistant and remind you of important dates and documents due.

6. Free consultancy for studying abroad is not good enough?

Some might have doubts about agencies that help students to apply to universities in the UK because they don’t charge at all. You might be suspicious of free service, and rightfully so.

But this does not mean those agencies don’t care about you or your applications. They don’t charge the applicants because they work with universities, from which they receive commission directly.

Agencies, hence, have more reason to help you perfect your applications and get admitted into your dream school.