Common mistakes that students make when applying for overseas admission

The process of applying to universities may seem quite overwhelming to international students. Keeping up with dates and deadlines, submitting documents on time, constant research and editing might drain you completely. Be mindful of common mistakes applicants make amidst this chaos. Here's the list

• Not conducting research
  Did you select colleges because your family told you to or your best friend is going there or a sibling went there? Did you form a pre-defined criterion to select your college? Does your college fit into your academic path? Does it offer extra-curricular opportunities to you?
  It is necessary to explore schools, course majors and electives, the curriculum, pedagogy- to make a list that fit your criterion. Other factors to consider include location, geography, climate, food and cultural habits, preference for a small or big city, cost of living, and internship opportunities.
• Inadequate Financial Planning
  It is easy to search for the cheapest tuition fee, thinking this is the way to go and save money. But this is not always the case. There are other fees that could be added to your cost of tuition like medical/health insurance, library, campus charges, etc. The other recurrent constant costs will be rent, electricity, heating, internet, phone, textbooks, laundry, food, conveyance, clothing and so on. A well-structured financial plan is required to take care of every aspect of your stay.
• Ignoring potential scholarships
  Students end up ignoring scholarship opportunities that might potentially aid their tuition fees. They assume they might not meet the criteria and thus don’t even try. However, the number of scholarships available on the basis of gender, subjects, total income or even just an essay is significant. Take advantage of these.
• Faking credentials
  Do not risk faking credentials in applications! This can risk your entire application and may even jeopardize your plans to study abroad. Mention the data in applications for which you can easily verifiable proof.
• Incomplete documentation
  Applications get rejected if the forms do not contain all the necessary details or in the desired format. Double check all the documents that you submit. Use a checklist. Prioritize your tasks so that you meet all deadlines stipulated in the application form.. Don’t forget to include your test scores and your application fee
• Not having a plan B
  You need to be well prepared for all the obstacles that may hinder your path. This also includes rejection! There is a chance you might not be accepted in the school of your dreams. Thus, it is very important to have your plan B in place. Apply to multiple schools and have a safety net just in case things do not work out as you had expected them to.
• Giving up after a rejection
  This is probably one of the most heart-breaking things counsellors have to deal with- the moment a student just gives up. Everyone must go through rejection but one must know that this is not the end of the world! Following your dreams does not have an expiration date and it will never be too late to finish your education. The moment you give up is the moment you lose the battle; and no student deserves to lose this battle.
• Taking your Visa for granted
  Don’t assume that the visa process will be easy. Visa is a very important issue and you must start looking into it as soon as you receive your acceptance letter. Submit all the required documents in the stipulated time period to avoid and problems.