To steer clear of traps, grasp the criteria for studying abroad in your intended destination nation (For instance, if it is Canada, make sure to understand Canadian overseas education requirements and visa procedures, the Canadian academic network, and more. Furthermore, when submitting applications to universities or seeking extra support from advisors, ensure you look into the following specifics.
- Confirm the validity of acceptance letters, payment slips, and other paperwork. Look into the issuing entities and reach out to them if needed. This is not just a singular event or limited to one nation alone.
Previously, multiple situations have occurred where learners were tricked by representatives into providing fraudulent paperwork, such as the well-known 2009 Australian visa fraud and 2015 New Zealand visa fraud. Over 150 Indian students faced deportation in the latter incident.
- Utilize verified and reliable channels for overseas education help, such as trusted consultants, organizations, or platforms like Ashiraj.
- Check the reliability of your advisors by looking up their feedback on Google, Trustpilot, YouTube, Quora, Reddit and similar public channels. Attempt to locate their past students via LinkedIn or Ashiraj and converse with them to get genuine feedback.
- Keep relevant authorities, such as the Canadian government, updated regarding any modifications to your academic plans, including switches in colleges or programs.
- Representatives are not always at fault. At times, the college or university itself may prove to be fraudulent, such as Tri-Valley University, US (2011), London School of Science and Technology, UK (2012) or Eden College, Ireland (2014).
Once these institutions attract the attention of local authorities, they can face bans or closures almost instantly, stranding international learners and potentially resulting in deportation. Therefore, definitely double-check institutional credentials prior to committing to enrollment.
- Do not remain in denial or take shortcuts. These issues can happen to anyone regardless of how well-informed they are. Always, always, always stay alert since this can greatly influence your profession.
Say no to “jugaad”. Indians love jugaad and it may help us navigate certain systems on home turf, but it’s a strict no-no globally.
- Talk with peers and alumni - Nothing beats the background of former students, seniors and current attendees. Reach out to them to gain perspectives regarding the institutions, the overseas education process, career prospects, and more.
You can achieve this through Ashiraj Connect, where you will discover over a million applicants, graduates, and mentors who are currently experiencing or have experienced studying abroad.
Explore Ashiraj Connect
Still, the simplest method to avoid these traps is maintaining clear objectives in your mind regarding your motives for heading overseas. If you are traveling as a student, learning ought to be the primary focus.
You are going there primarily to acquire world-class instruction and international exposure. Exceptional professional prospects will naturally follow if you secure admission to a strong university and program while giving your best effort during the studies.
However, if you are simply treating the educational path as an entry ticket to a country, or planning to study abroad for improper reasons, you become considerably more vulnerable to any form of scam. Your own personal greed will stop you from recognizing right from wrong.
Agent vs. Counsellor
When deciding who to consult for your applications, a fundamental distinction exists between an agent and a counsellor. Most applicants and parents remain unaware of this fact.
An "agent" frequently acts on behalf of specific academic institutions, trying to register students into their courses in exchange for a commission. Their priorities may not always match what is best for the students. In most cases, an agent won’t charge you.
“If You're Not Paying For It, You Become The Product” - While we are unsure whether to attribute this to Tristan Harris, Steve Jobs, or Andrew Lewis, we certainly resonate deeply with this statement.
We Indians generally dislike paying upfront fees for assistance but often accept it if the service provider earns a commission instead. Although that model functions well in other sectors, this situation involves your education, career, and future.
Conversely, a "counsellor" supplies objective direction and guidance, assisting learners in picking the ideal academic route according to their requirements and objectives. A counsellor places the welfare and achievement of the students above everything else.
Sadly, the majority of market participants operate as “agents”. Naturally, this does not imply that all of them are dishonest.
Yet as an prospective learner, performing your own background checks is your duty. Be certain about whom you hire to manage your application paperwork.
P.S.: In case you didn’t get it, Ashiraj is purely a counselling platform and not an agent. We are a student-first organization, which is why we charge students for counselling rather than depending on the university commissions for our revenues.
