Is Studying Overseas For You?
I am often asked by parents if studying overseas is really worth the time, expense and emotional toll that a family must pay when a child leaves to go study in Canada. After all, math is math anywhere in the world, and kids have access to the world at their fingertips thanks to the internet, right? What can they really learn overseas that cannot be learned at home? Great question! After all, the cost of studying overseas is not cheap, and there will likely be an emotional cost to be paid by both parents and students, certainly in the beginning, when leaving home. It won’t be easy.
I wish I really had a standard answer to this question, but I don’t. It really depends on the main objective of studying overseas. In reality, an overseas high school program will deliver an experience and life lessons that are different from kid to kid. Those who get the most out of any overseas program have clearly defined expectations. To find the answer to this question, look at your goals and objectives, analyze them, and look for multiple solutions so that you can make an informed decision about whether these sorts of programs are for you or not.
Let’s start with why you want to send your child to study overseas.
On a piece of paper or, better yet, an Excel spreadsheet, list all of the reasons you can think of and then pick at least 3-5 reasons. Do not hold back. List as many as you can first without ranking or judging the merits of any of them; you will have time later to address that.
Next, pick at least 3-5 main objectives, but do not worry if you can only dwindle the list down to ten. If you have ten objectives, then analyze each of them.
In a spreadsheet that you started, add three columns to the left of each item in your list. There are several ways to set up this matric, but trying to keep it as simple as possible, I suggest five columns for a matrix that looks something like this.
The table above is for example’s sake only. The idea here is to get your thoughts out of your head and onto paper. Feel free to make a table with only two columns (objective and pros/cons). Whatever works for you.
Once you have identified your objectives or problems to solve, you must write down the pros and cons of each solution for both the in-country and overseas solutions. Only then will you be able to analyze them properly. Writing this exercise down on paper instead of simply running it through your head or discussing it with family and friends allows you to compare the solutions better and remember later on why you are considering studying abroad in the first place. This exercise will often help you identify other issues or hurdles that must be addressed before the solution can be implemented. It will help you stay focused and on track.
Do not be surprised if, after an initial run at this exercise, you still are not 100% clear on the decision to take. Some of your objectives and solutions may conflict with one another. For example, you may want to have your child gain more independence from you, which an overseas high school will certainly do, but you may also want to be able to see them many times throughout the year. It may be that to give them the full independence experience you want for them, you may not see them until the end of the program. You may find that starting with a short-term summer program will work for now. That is why you should rank all of your goals, objectives and issues and compare them against each other. Determine beforehand what you must absolutely get from a program for it to be considered a success. Once the program starts, you can compare it to your most important objectives and not feel that the program is not meeting your expectations if one of your minor, or bonus objective, is not met.
I once had parents from an affluent family who felt their child was not learning basic survival skills and was too needed and dependent on them. Their only objective was to give their son a taste of real life and let him learn to handle everyday issues by himself. Once they found a program that would challenge their son in a safe and supportive environment, they were happy. Others join the program without any expectations and always seem to question if the program is delivering. If you do not know what you want, you will not be able to see it even when it is in front of you, and we certainly won’t be able to make the best recommendation for your child. And the last thing we all want is to have to deal with unsatisfied students or parents who feel that the program is not delivering. A little leg work upfront will go a long way to providing your child with a great overseas program. Feel free to contact us for a free consultation, and let’s find out if studying overseas is for you.
Rene is a Canadian education consulting and student recruiter based out of Bangkok with over 20 years of experience in the S.E. Asian market. He can be reached at info@gostudycanada.net and followed at GoStudyCanada (FB & IG)
