Studying abroad will always be a very good option for your personal and professional growth. Wanting to open up to new horizons is to move one step further in life, as is the desire to want to explore new lands. Studying for just one semester at a university as an exchange student is very different from living the experience of having to spend years in another country to complete university.

With us, know the points to consider before deciding to pursue a career abroad. Before starting this adventure, be sure to read these tips.

1. Location

Most people who are considering studying abroad already have a place in mind. And that’s the first step in this whole process. However, you should not choose your destination country based only on taste. Take into account the weather, the distance from your friends and family, the type of city, etc.

2. Professional career

For those who are a bit stricter in terms of their requirements, they will most likely want to choose the colleges that are best suited to the career you have in mind. Colleges have different majors, and some are better than others in certain majors. You should find out which one is the best for you and if you meet all the entry requirements.

Either way, we know that you will enjoy your experience no matter where you go. In any place you will be challenging and develop all your skills. When you return home you will have a completely different point of view than you had before traveling.

3. The courses, the cost and the immersion

As we already mentioned, each university in the world is different, so reviewing all the characteristics of these can be a bit difficult. Add to this the fact that you will have to choose a university where you will be around 4 to 6 years, an even greater challenge if you think about your expenses and needs.

There are three important points to consider: the courses, the cost and the level of immersion.

Make sure that the program keeps you up to date with your studies, while not “emptying” your pockets, it is the key when making a decision. Also, quite apart from that problem, there are also others that you should know. When choosing a country, it is important to take into account the language barrier, cost of living, neighboring countries, cultural differences, and even your political position. If the country you are going to speaks a language other than yours, you will most likely have to demonstrate your proficiency in this language through an international test (such as the TOEFL or GMAT). Many international universities are cheaper than US private universities – but the cost of living could make a big difference.

4. Explore

Keep in mind that one of the best things about being abroad is having the opportunity to explore while you are there. So even if you don’t end up in the country you had in mind, this doesn’t mean you can’t travel through it and get to know it.

Also, living abroad for a long time makes you a travel expert. You will have enough time in all these years to visit tourist areas calmly.

5. The academic environment

There are also little factors to think about when it comes to academics: grades, credits, and difficulty. Remember that not all countries have the same academic system. It is the same case if we talk about universities. When it comes to the levels of student services there are many variations.

Because of this, you need to be willing to be more independent in your studies, although the decision to go to a university abroad is an indicator – quite a big one – that you already are.

Furthermore, the classification system that can be used will not necessarily be the same. For example, some schools in the US use a scale from 0 to 100 represented in letters. However, in Peru, we use a 20-point rating scale. So make sure you are ready for these changes.

6. The application process

And now… the application process!

Academic success, independence, and adaptability are probably the three most important traits for applying to a foreign university. The university wants to make sure that you will be successful in this type of learning environment, so showing that we understand the challenges of studying abroad is important.

7. You will be far from home

Remember that studying abroad means that you will be thousands of miles from home (in some cases, even on a different continent). Most likely, there will be days when you will want to be at home, with your family, and lying in your own bed.

Also, don’t forget that being abroad also means a time difference. If you are studying in Australia, for example, you will have a schedule opposite to that of Peru. This will make it a bit difficult for you to talk to your family and friends.

You should take many details into consideration when deciding to study abroad, but taking the next step will be a college experience you can never forget.