Today is the time when students are looking at more than one option to study abroad and going abroad for study isn’t a big luxury anymore but a trend and a growing experience that everyone wants to indulge in.
With the abundance of resources online as well as through other mediums finding your way shouldn’t be a hard problem. However, this large influx of information can also make it a bit harder to know which one is the right way to go. This is where your keen research skill and your ability to look at all the pros and cons, weigh your options become a critical thing.
When you are looking at choices for studying abroad there is a wide range of ways you can opt for, right from foreign exchange programs for high school students to regular university applications, and much more. These are specific to different levels, for different periods, and come with their own set of benefits. It is only you who have to decide which one is right for you.
Ways You Can Look for Going to Study in a Foreign Country
So, what are the different ways through which you can go abroad to study? We detail below:
Study Abroad Programs at the High School Level
It is not that you have to wait until university or college time to go to a foreign land to study. You can do that right in your high school phase. These programs are specific for the school break time or the summer break when you can have the option of going through a great and different learning curve that can go a long way in shaping your life and career ahead. Check with your school administration how it can assist with such programs and what options and countries you have in the option to pick one that suits your interests best. You can look for the best international secondary school and prepare yourself for a brighter future.
Foreign Exchange Programs for High School Students
While foreign exchange programs have been popular with university students for a long, it isn’t that high school students can’t take them. It is fast becoming popular at this stage also nowadays. As you can understand by the term, it is about switching places with a student in a school in another country (between schools having established such type of relationship across the seas), so that both can experience something new in learning, cultural immersion, and more. These exchange programs are usually for a short period: about a semester or a year.
Study Abroad Programs Provided by Your University
This is one of the common ways to study abroad, but this can’t be taken at the high school level and you will have to wait till you enrol in a university and that university should have such a program offering for the students. These types of programs also vary in time, from a semester to a year and in some cases more than that. Also, such programs usually cost less than when you go directly to a university, enrolling in one of their programs. The famous ivy league schools in the United States offer study abroad programs and partner with other international universities.
Study Abroad Programs from an Independent Organization
Well, it can be that your school or university may not have the exchange study set up. This is where you shouldn’t lose focus if this is the case with you. You can try third-party organizations that provide dedicated study abroad programs across the top level and a wide range of colleges and universities. These organizations have built relationships with schools and universities and provide suitable support for programs ranging from a semester to a year duration. You can easily search for your location as well as online.
Direct Admission to a Foreign University
This is a way that is straightforward. It means you can pick the university of your choosing, your interesting program as well as the country, and then go straight there enrolling in the university, taking in a whole new experience for the entire study duration that can be a semester, a year, and more. This also provides the option that you can look for work opportunities there afterwards.
However, there are certain requirements that you have to go through specific to what the university and the related country require from you. However, there is one aspect with such a program and it is that you will have to manage the entire expenses and process at your end and it usually costs more than foreign exchange and study abroad programs.
Independent Study Programs
As mentioned, these programs are created and completed by a student, unlike what other college or university programs are. These are taken by the students under the guidance of a faculty sponsor. These can be applied for reaching out to an academic counsellor, a study abroad office, or a professor. These are also becoming popular in today’s times.
So, whether you think that foreign exchange programs for high school students is right for you, or any other one, make sure to go through the entire process required before taking the step.