Study Abroad Consultants are the backbone of the study abroad process; they give you the individual attention and help regarding finding a program that is the best fit for you. They mentor you through the tedious process of getting the paperwork turned in on time, paying fees, applying for scholarships and in getting your Visa. However, there are quite a few times when your Study Abroad Consultant might hesitate in the process and you might be perplexed trying to figure out what is going wrong. But you need to understand that your consultant might as well be annoyed by you without you even knowing it. How? Read along.
1. Be clear about what you want
You just cannot show up in your advisor’s office all confused with no idea whatsoever about what you want. If that sounds like you, then chances are that your study abroad consultant might get outraged because you are making them do all the work. Sure, suggesting the course and the universities is their duty but you need to do your ground work first. Remember, if you do not know what you want then it might lead you anywhere so you need to at least begin by jotting down your probable options which can help you zero down to your choice.
2. Communicate your needs
There could be certain constraints that you have in mind which your advisor is not aware of. It could be that you are looking for courses which meet your budget or you could only be interested in a one-year program than a two-year program, anything along the same lines.Now if you do not communicate these peculiar details to your advisor then he/she will not be able to help you out in the best possible way. They might be wondering why you keep rejecting every single course that they recommend and will be frustrated. You should clearly tell your needs to your advisor in order to get the best guidance.
Respect the deadlines
Well, it is quite difficult to keep all your paperwork ready and meet all the deadlines flawlessly while still being in school but at the same time you need to remember that it is your dream not someone else’s to study abroad and irrespective of all the hurdles you will have to make an effort to do what you got to do before the deadline. If you constantly make your Study Abroad Consultant track you down or keep their office open after office hours then it is a sure sign that you are driving your advisor crazy. Your efforts show your level of interest.
Don’t apply just because your friend did
Your Study Abroad Consultant has seen all kinds of students and they can easily distinguish whether you have signed up yourself or have been dragged by a peer. If your consultants are fed up chasing you then you need to double check if it is really worth spending all that time and energy for someone else’s passion.
Make up your mind
If you are not sure about whether you want to spend your college life in New York or San Diego and you are fascinated by every new university that you hear about then you might get yourself in trouble. You seriously need to figure out and stick to one option and need to respect your advisors time and effort. So make a choice and make sure you have your homework done before you meet your advisor.
Value your advisor
It is very obvious that you are the one that has got to make the final call when it comes to deciding the program or university of your choice, but you have approached the Study Abroad Professionals for a reason and you should respect their expertise and experience. They have helped hundreds of students in achieving the study abroad goals and you need to understand this. They get paid to help you and you should know how to make the most of the guidance and wisdom that they have to offer.
To top it all, remember that it is your study abroad experience and you need to work cordially with the advisors to help you meet your goals. If you are generally not interested in the whole procedure and you make them do most of the work without making any efforts then this is a red flag! So the next time you have an appointment with your Abroad Education Consultants make sure you have your spreadsheets, brochures, and a list of questions handy. Show them some appreciation and don’t know any of the above mentioned annoying things.