How to Get the Most Out of an International Education

An international education can help boost your credentials at home and can also be a great way to get a footing in a new country. Most countries have favourable post-graduate visas, and the simple act of knowing the area, having friends, and having local internships and jobs can do wonders towards your chances of starting a new life in a new country.

To help you get the most out of your international education, you want to go above and beyond just what you learn in the classroom. You’ll want to follow the tips and tricks in this guide.

1.    Improve Your Applications and Increase Acceptance Chances

First things first: getting into your top choice. One of the greatest difficulties that come with applying to a program overseas or in a different country is the possible difference in admission requirements. Starting early is essential. You can go to campusreel.org and see the admission requirements and various other statistics that will help you put together your student resume and craft a winning application.

For many international students, this will mean sitting the SATs. While not a standard in most countries, it is a standard in the United States of America and the universities and colleges within it. Studying for the SATs and sitting them will need to be done before you apply, so find your local SAT program and get started.

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2.    Take Note of the Societies, Clubs, Competitions, and Extra Opportunities

You never want to cap your learning to the classroom. There are so many ways that you can learn, explore, and expand your network while you are at university without having to leave the comfort of your campus. Explore the societies and clubs that are available and join all the ones that you are even vaguely interested in for your first year. As time goes on, you will understand which ones are personally worthwhile to you and which ones aren’t, which will allow you to cut down the number of memberships you have and, in exchange, increase the amount of responsibility you have.

Competitions are another great way to meet new people, gain experience, and in this case, even possibly win awards and accolades before you graduate.

Your university will also likely hold extra special lectures on a variety of topics that are open to both students and even the public at large. This can be a very good way of learning new things and keeping your mind open and curious.

3.    Intern, Intern, Intern

Interning while you are a student is very smart. There are many unique internship opportunities that are only open to students or recent graduates. There are also internships that are only available through your university.

Try to have at least one internship going on at a time, with breaks for exam season. This way, you can expand your professional credentials and network by the time you graduate. If your goal is to stay in the country, you will need a job that can sponsor you, and this is the best way to increase your chances out of the gate.

If you plan on going home, then getting all of this professional experience can put you a world ahead of those who stayed at home for their education, especially if you want to apply to work in international businesses and firms at home.