Are you sure your applications have reached the right place? Have you been waiting for their response for a long time? Have you been vetted through the process in the right way? Did you send in your study abroad application in the right place? Many things can go wrong in the entire process of sending in your applications and the waiting period for the response time. We tend to ignore the more minor things in pursuing the bigger picture. That is quite natural. But that is the one thing you should NOT do when applying for overseas education. Even if you have a stellar academic and extra-curricular record, your minute actions of overconfidence may rob you of your seat in a foreign university.
But you CAN follow some tips and hacks to ensure that your study abroad applications are not lost in the mail dump.
Apply Early
This is the oldest and most cliched rule in the rulebook to boost your study abroad application. The proverb early to bed, early to rise is appropriate here. To do so, you need to do your research earlier. Make your plans about the entire process and list the contingencies which may happen. Also, list out the solutions too. Early planning will help you keep a clear mind throughout the process. Do not mix excitement and planning. Planning needs to be serious for your overseas education dream to come true.
Apply Right
Many students in their state of the adrenaline rush, or the access to spending more money, tend to apply to too many universities and colleges at once during their study abroad application. This only scrambles your mind and your potential plans. You also fess up your funds in doing so. Do your research. Why do you choose this institution and not that? Compare and contrast your answers in the choices you list. And select those universities where you find that your funds and your potential scholarships will remove the obstacles to studying abroad to a minimum.
You can take the help of our Course Finder to shortlist the universities and the courses they offer that peak your interest
Read That Brochure!
Do NOT skim through the prospectuses or brochures of your desired institutions as you do with the Cookies or T&C on websites. Carefully move throughout the pages, top to bottom. List out the things that you like and dislike and only then move forward with your study abroad application. This will help you make informed choices. Most of these brochures mention how their admission panel and application forum work. They also mention what fits best for them and what they expect from students and applications. List those things and remember them.
Work With an Educational Consultant
Whether we like it or not, we do not know everything. We need that expert help. We cannot rely exclusively on the relative statements of our relatives abroad. So, consulting agencies that have performed in the field of overseas education quite excellently for a long time might come in handy for us. The best part is your burden is minimized. They will guide you through the entire study abroad application process and advise you on the best possible choices according to your needs. The connections of education counsellors help your applications speed up the whole process.
Get to Work
Unlike the exclusively theoretical educational conventions in India, overseas universities tend to focus on study abroad applications and applicants who are working on, or are willing for, their holistic developments. If you are not that sports person, make some art, write, do stand-up comedy, sing, or do open mic poetry, etc. If you are business or tech-oriented, put your skills to good use by doing virtual or in-office internships. Today, websites like Glassdoor, Chegg, etc., offer great paid internships. Earn for your hard work. Put your experience on your statement of purpose. Start doing the work here of what you aim to achieve there.
Having a strong profile will help you build and boost your application tremendously!
Experience Letters
Recommendations apart from your tutors or teachers do wonders for your study abroad application. Internships and apprenticeships widen your networking in your desired field. Once you are a part of it, you can request recommendations or experience letters from your employers or managers to certify you as a stellar employee or team player.
Focus on Academic Wellness
Overseas institutions might focus on extra-curricular activities or work experience but at the end of the day, they want to see if you are academically well-suited for their program. This does not mean that you need to be a 95%-scoring student. But it would help if you focused on keeping your grades above the average scale and it will immediately boost your study abroad application.
Be a Smart Conversationist
There have been many instances where with only a 15-minute telephonic interview, some students have been offered the unconditional offer of a seat in the program on the spot. The following student can be you. Be vocal about your answers only if you keep up your end of the conversation. Do not murmur or become overly emotional. Express your passion for the chosen program. Critical questions do not always demand critical answers; competent and short answers are the proper response.
Add Certifications
In this digitally active age, many proficient certificate courses are free by famous universities such as Harvard, Oxford, etc. Use this to your advantage. Branch out into other related fields of your chosen program. This shows and exemplifies the passion in your study abroad application.
Submit the Right Documents
Listen to your gut feeling and double-check every document required by the admission panel to make their decision as soon as possible. Not doing so delays your study abroad application response time and the following applications.
If your response time elongates beyond their given timeline, you can always contact their helpline or drop them an email. However, before doing so, ensure everything on your end is on track and everything is done according to the procedure, following the rules. The best hack to boost your study abroad application is to do well in your written statements and make sure they see you as a contributor and a team player in their institution.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q.1) How can I make my study abroad application stand out?
Universities appreciate applicants who are working on themselves. If you are not that sports person, make some art, write, do stand-up comedy, sing, or do open mic poetry, etc. If you are business or tech-oriented, put your skills to good use by doing virtual or in-office internships.
Q.2) How can I increase my chances of studying abroad?
Apply Early! To do so, you need to do your research earlier. Make your plans about the entire process and list the contingencies which may happen. Early planning will help you keep a clear mind throughout the process. Do not mix excitement and planning. Planning needs to be serious for your overseas education dream to come true.