The secret to success in having a stress-free
application process is to plan strategically. With about 194 attractive
destinations to choose from, and over 23,729 universities in the world,
choosing where to apply for university abroad can get really confusing. Applying is not an easy task, and if you are already getting overwhelmed by
how to start this process, this step by step guide is for you!
1. What do you want to achieve?
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By Chestie Nut (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0
(httpcreativecommons.orglicensesby-sa4.0)], via Wikimedia Commons |
The question which you need to answer is: why
do you want to study abroad? Take a pen and a paper, and jot down your top three reasons! Your motives will later influence your university application
list, so it's very important that you take this step very seriously. Think
about where you want to see yourself at the end of this process. Some people
are interested in learning about different cultures, others have their career after their studies in mind. Do you want to open up possibilities for a
better future in a new country? Do you want to have a top ranked university on
your resume? Take the time to talk to family members, friends and people who already
studied abroad who can help you better understand your
motives.
2. Choose the character of your University
This is where you go into detail. Now that you
know what you want to achieve, it's time to consider the parameters of your
ideal study experience. Think about how important the location of the school is
for you. If you need help choosing a country to study in, take this easy personality test to find out which
city suits you. If you want to
stay abroad after your studies, make sure the university you pick is in a
country that allows you to do that. Think about the language of the country,
the culture, and ask yourself how important the reputation of the university is
for you. Also, make sure to take your budget into consideration. How much are
you willing to pay for the studies and living expenses? These are all important
factors, which will make your life easier in the application process, and will
save you time and money in the future. When you finish brainstorming, create a spreadsheet with all the
parameters of your ideal university and study experience.
3. Locate the universities that match your answers
Now that you know what you are looking for, it's
time to do some research. Hold on before you start your google search, because
this is where it gets a bit overwhelming. With today's easy access to
information, you need to stay focused. Have your spreadsheet open, and start listing the universities
that match the top parameters that are most important to you. For example, if the location is the most important for you,
list down all the universities in the area of your choice, which offer the
study program which you are interested in. Stay open minded and list down even
options that you haven't thought about before, as long as they match your
criteria.
After listing the universities, go through the
other sections which you wrote
down, and tick off each section which matches your ideal choice of school. You will be able to find all this
information in the universities' websites. You need to get all of information first, so that you end up with a list of matching schools that you
would be happy to study in.
4 4. Find out the Requirements and your Chances of getting Accepted
Now that you limited your choices, it's time to
find out what your requirements are to study in each university on your list.
Each country and university has different application criteria for
international students. If you have no idea what the criteria in your choice of country
is, talk to
someone who knows. Find someone from the same background as you. It's even better if
they studied in one of the universities on your list. If you have already done
some of the required tests, and you know what the criteria for each university
application is, get advice to see how you can improve your chances of getting
accepted. Talk to someone who already did it and knows what universities are
looking for.
If your dream is to study business or
engineering in the United States, there are some advanced predictive tools now
available that can help you find out which schools will accept you. Also find out how selective each
university is by looking at the percentage of the students that are admitted.
Try to match your characteristics to the ones that they are looking for to know
where you best fit.
5. How
many university applications should you send?
This is where you finalize your university
application list. Your goal is on one hand, to open up your options, but also
to save up as much time and money as you can. Since each application costs
between $80-$250 (depending on program and school), choose your application
list wisely.
Divide your university list into three
categories according to your qualification: dream schools (“reach”), schools
you are likely to be a good fit for (“match”), and some “safety” schools,
according to your chances of getting accepted to the different schools. By
doing this, you are ensuring that you will get accepted to at least one of
these schools, but you are also opening up the option of getting accepted into
a school above your qualification. Make sure that you will be satisfied with
studying in each of these universities. With this strategy, you will have a
comprehensive portfolio of ideally 5-7 schools that are the right choice for
you.
Now that you know what you are looking for, it's
time to do some research. Hold on before you start your google search, because
this is where it gets a bit overwhelming. With today's easy access to
information, you need to stay focused. Have your spreadsheet open, and start listing the universities
that match the top parameters that are most important to you. For example, if the location is the most important for you,
list down all the universities in the area of your choice, which offer the
study program which you are interested in. Stay open minded and list down even
options that you haven't thought about before, as long as they match your
criteria. 
This is where you finalize your university
application list. Your goal is on one hand, to open up your options, but also
to save up as much time and money as you can. Since each application costs
between $80-$250 (depending on program and school), choose your application
list wisely.
