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To greener pastures

Students heading to universities abroad would do well to do some homework on the country of their destination

PHOTO: AP

ALL SET The anxiety of going to a place that's not only completely new but also very different is very real.

It's that time of the year again when students are all set to leave the country to pursue their dreams on foreign shores. Last-minute shopping and packing is on in full swing. So is their effort to know more about the places they are headed to.

For students like Lavina Varindani, relatives who have already been there are a big source of information. "Through them I got to know about the kind of clothes I should carry, which bank is the best to open an account with and which cellular service to go for. I didn't know that even spices are not allowed into Australia. Hadn't it been for cousins, I would have ended up taking them in my luggage," says Lavina, who's leaving for University of Technology, Sydney, to pursue her Masters in Communications.

Same is the case with Jwala, who is heading to Eastern Illinois University for her Masters in Chemistry. "My uncle and aunts have arranged for pick up and travel to the university. They also gave me information of things that are expensive or cheap there, so that I can shop sensibly," she says.

Consultancies

But there are many consultancies that offer pre-departure classes or workshops for students as well. "We conduct our sessions twice a year, one is July and another in January. In these workshops, we cover all the different aspects a student travelling abroad needs to know. We get students who have been abroad and foreigners to talk about their experiences," says Manjari Ganu, an educational adviser.

These kind of sessions talk about issues like foreign exchange, finding housing, legal matters and, even, plagiarism. Even routine matters such as opening a bank account or textbooks are discussed. "Students also get to talk to each other and get more information. At times, they might meet someone else going to the same university," explains Manjari.

Alok Gupta, on the other hand, took the help of his seniors and friends to get to know his university better. "I have many friends who have finished their MBAs and have settled in Australia. That's how I was assured that the Western Sydney is safe for me, as racism exists in many universities. They also found out all the information I needed. Other than that, I went online to read up more about the university and the place. There are a whole lot of reviews available online. Even the consultancy I went to helped me out a lot," says the 22-year-old, who will move to the University of Western Sydney to do his MBA.

Useful tips

Adds Jwala: "Speaking to my seniors, I also learned about how to behave with your professors. Such tips really help."

But as Lavina puts it: "Once you are there, you have to face it all by yourself. You can never gauge the condition sitting here, but yes, being prepared helps."

MANGALA RAMAMOORTHY

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