The transition from being a high school kid to a college student can be a big step to many. You will be involved in many mind-boggling decisions. It is perfectly normal to get nervous and feel like you have swallowed a thousand butterflies.

There is a wide selection of schools for you to choose from after graduation. If you scored well, congratulations! The world is your oyster with invitations to apply to most institutions. If you did not score that well, it is not the end of the world. There are schools that offer vocational courses. Therefore, you start from the basics of your major.

1) A misconception: Private colleges cannot provide quality education.

Some colleges are believed to offer inferior programs because they have easy entry requirements. What most people do not know is that some prestigious colleges do so because they start from the basics. Most private colleges require at least a pass on three high school subjects, including a language.

For example, a course in graphic design might require basic mathematics to calculate artwork size. Students will require basic knowledge in measuring and drawing straight lines, angles, and arcs. But complicated algebra is often not applied when creating art work. Therefore, private colleges recognize this and do not expect straight ‘A’s from applicants.

There is really nothing to worry about. Regardless of whether a student enrolls into a private or government-run college, a lecturer will usually include this statement in his introduction: “Forget everything you learnt in high school. At least 70-90% of what you learnt will not apply here.”

At the end of the day, find a college that prepares you for real professional work. A full-time job will never require you to mug textbooks.

2) I want to study overseas! How do I apply for a student visa?

If you have considered studying abroad before, you have probably tried applying for a student visa on your own. While looking through data from search engines, you will probably be directed to embassies. Depending on the country of your choice, you will be bombarded by all sorts of jargon and information that is hard to understand.

Here is the nutshell of all that trouble: It is impossible to apply for a student visa without the help of a school.

After selecting the country you wish to study in, you have to choose a school. The school will apply your student visa for you. Most of the time, what you need is your high school transcripts, passport and a few photographs of yourself. Email the school’s consultant for a full list of documents you must provide. In some cases, you might be required to write an essay, send your portfolio, or even fly over to the country for an interview.

The only thing you have to worry about as an international applicant is time to process your student pass. The school should not take longer than two months if you provide them with all the documents they require.

3) How hard are college classes?

Regardless of country you are in, every academic staff in their right mind will want their students to pass. It is their job and duty to teach you how to achieve the best grades possible. College classes are not made to be difficult. It is all in your head. In fact, they can be rather enjoyable – especially if you choose a course of your interest.

Do not avoid your dream course just because you think it is going to be hard. Or that finding a job afterwards will be virtually impossible. Research your field well. And if you are brave enough, approach a few professionals working in your field of interest. Better yet, request to speak to the program director of your ideal course. A program director of a good school has been through industry experiences before and will be the best person to advise you on your options.

You can find out how complex your courses are by looking at module lists. Do an online search on every module, and you can get a good idea of what you will be handling in school.

Let us help you! At Raffles, everyone’s case is unique and we want to give the best advice that works for you. Within the Raffles Education Network, you can choose to study abroad in 38 colleges in 14 countries around Asia pacific. These countries include: Singapore, Cambodia, Philippines, India, Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand, Mongolia, Australia, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, China and New Zealand.

Interested to take your studies in Australia? Malaysia? or Singapore? Get your affairs straightened out back home and enroll at Raffles Design Institute (http://www.raffles-iao.com/). We provide an extensive learning experience in business or design with our world-class curriculum.

Author Bio: Let us help you! At Raffles, everyone’s case is unique and we want to give the best advice that works for you. Within the Raffles Education Network, you can choose to study abroad in 38 colleges in 14 countries around Asia pacific. These countries include: Singapore, Cambodia, Philippines, India, Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand, Mongolia, Australia, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, China and New Zealand.

Category: Education
Keywords: studying abroad tips,study abroad Asia,college tips,study overseas,raffles education