Indian students are attracted towards ‘foreign’ fixation when it comes to pursuing higher studies. But, before you decide to get that foreign degree on your resume and your visiting card, here are a few things that you need to keep in mind.
Students should start planning and prepare one year before the intake session. Students who are planning to take admission in fall 2011(October 2011-January 2012) have to start finding out top universities and funding options for courses of their choice.
For instance, an MBA, or a Master’s degree or Ph.d program requires you to give certain exams such as Graduate Record Examination (GRE) Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT), Test of English as Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS). It is advisable to take these exams at least 10-12 months before the admission deadline.
Many people have a common question in their mind regarding their job. There may be two reasons to quit your current job and study abroad. One is that you want to study abroad and want to get a job in the same country. The other reason may be that you expect career growth in India after you acquire a foreign degree. So, if you are leaving your current job you should be positively assured that you will get a better job immediately after you complete your study.
Another common mistake that Indian students make is in the choice of the course they decide to specialize in. It is better to pursue a course that is relevant to your current job. Very often we find out that engineers taking up a course in MBA, thinking that the jobs are the most monetarily rewarding in the financial services industry. But, what they forget is they have to start from beginning and often their past work experience may not be considered. Hence, unless an engineering student is absolutely passionate about finance, he should take up the course related to his zone.
Getting a scholarship or a bursary is not at all a cake walk it’s just the matter of chance. So, if you are working with the intention of doing an MBA or any Master’s Degree, in three to four years’ time, start saving now. One should be in touch with process of applying for an education loan, and should simultaneously start exploring the option of obtaining scholarship for financing MBA course.