Studying abroad is a major lifestyle change, one that shouldn’t be taken lightly. Aside from academic challenges, there will be the adjustment to a new environment, with its own language, weather, transportation, expenses, and culture. It can also mean leaving your family behind and experiencing bouts of terrible homesickness. In some cases it may lead to the forging of a new identity. For many, the situation will be a startling departure from life in the Philippines, where everybody practically knows everyone else.
While leaving the familiar might be an intimidating prospect there is also the lure of learning all about a new place, meeting different people, and even discovering the things you are capable of accomplishing without the usual support system you may have had in the Philippines.
So before you fill out those application forms and pay those hefty application fees, consider the following:
1. Do you really need a foreign degree?
Studying outside of the country usually provides limitless possibilities, and can give you an edge. A foreign degree usually signifies a good solid educational background, exposure to international situations, and a maturity that goes with living on your own in a foreign country.
A foreign degree does not always equate itself with equivalent compensation. Comfort yourself with the thought that having a foreign degree in your resumé will always give you the edge over others. For graduate students, this advantage will depend on your field. Some may argue that experience is the best teacher, but in today’s increasingly competitive marketplace a degree from abroad is one way of setting you apart from the competition. Nevertheless, it is always best to couple the advantage afforded by a foreign degree with some relevant work experience done while abroad.
2. Is it the right time to pursue studying abroad?
If you plan on to college abroad, we recommend going to school immediately after high school. This way, everything you studied is still fresh. For those considering a graduate degree, it would be ideal to work for (at least) 2 years just so you have experience in a “real” work situation. Some of the classes you might take will refer to your experiences in the workplace or will require technical expertise gained from practical experience.
Leaving a year for preparation gives you time to take the necessary exams, scout out possible schools and to prepare for departure. Some schools allow Spring/Winter (January) enrollment while other will only allow you to begin your program in the Fall semester (September).
3. Can you afford it?
A foreign degree is significantly more expensive than a degree in the Philippines. Aside from the glaring fact that tuition fees and living expenses are paid in a foreign currency (factor in exchange rates, bank interests, etc), you also move to a city whose costs of living are usually much higher than any city in the Philippines. Business, computer, medical, and law courses are always more costly, in part because they have higher expected returns.
Aside from tuition, other expenses to consider are lodging, transportation, books, clothing allowance (an absolute must for countries/states that have colder climates), and food. For more details on the budget, our section on Money Matters contains a Sample Budget Breakdown.
You don’t have to carry the financial burden alone. There are a large variety of scholarships available; it is just a matter of finding them. Of course, it would be an enormous advantage for you if your grades are good, you receive glowing academic and professional recommendations, and earned high scores in your entrance exams (SAT, GMAT). It is also possible to get accepted into the program, and then apply for financial aid/scholarships in your particular department. This is because the department will not always include partial scholarship information in their catalogs and bulletins. You only find out about the financial aid when you actually go to the department office. (A word of caution: MBAs in the U.S. generally do not offer scholarships.)
A case in point: When Tricia learned about an available scholarship in her department, she immediately applied and was granted free tuition. In exchange, she worked as a graduate assistant in her department’s office. A friend of ours, Lia Uy-Tioco was also offered a partial scholarship after a semester in the NYU Publishing Studies program. A compilation of scholarships recommended by our survey respondents and our research on the web is provided at the end of this chapter.
4. Have you decided on your school and program?
Selecting your school is a major decision, too. There might be schools rated in the top 10 but the program you selected might not be its greatest strength. There are several smaller, lesser-known colleges and universities with well-respected programs in various fields. Even with MBAs, each school will have its unique strength—Marketing, IT, Finance, General Management, Entrepreneurial, etc.
School location is another important factor. For example, New York might be attractive for some people because of its cultural offerings, the diversity of its residents, or simply because it’s the center of publishing, media and finance. Of course there are trade-offs: Living expenses are higher, and studying might become difficult with the many distractions offered by the city.
Consider whether you prefer a smaller college where you get to know everyone compared with the sprawling universities where you might become just another face in the crowd. The other side of the coin is the possibility of sticking out uncomfortably, particularly in schools where the Asian student population is small. You should weigh carefully the various climates found within universities in your choice of a college, as the atmosphere may affect your studies and social life while away from home.
A hint on research: Aside from the Web sites we recommend, try approaching the Embassy of the country where you want to study. They usually provide a database of schools and information about the area where these schools are located. It is valuable for you to know the temperature of the community wherein the school finds itself in. There is usually an education representative within the Embassy who can address all your questions and concerns about studying abroad, especially about studying in their country. With the increasing number of foreign students, most universities and colleges welcome inquiries about their programs.
The Pros and Cons of Studying Abroad
If you have the opportunity and financial wherewithal to study abroad, we heartily endorse it. However, we want you to have the complete picture. Following are some pros and cons to studying overseas.
Pros
*Resources
Foreign colleges and universities offer many wonderful resources. Your expensive tuition is reflected in many ways: libraries with vast holdings (and the opportunity to access other school libraries as well), state-of-the-art computer laboratories, professors who are leaders in their respective fields (some of whom could have written your required textbooks). The section on “Academics” best describes how you can take advantage of these facilities, while the section on Entertainment will give you an idea how schools provide free recreation for their students.
*Exposure to a New Culture
Despite our very westernized culture, studying in another country will always prove itself an eye-opening experience. Even if you’ve traveled and visited the country where you plan to live and study, the experience of living there will be very different. Even it’s an English-speaking country you’re headed for, they will always have a different way of expressing themselves, one you are not easily privy to. The feel of a place will always be different—from that experienced by a visitor versus that lived through by a resident.
You will immediately realize, once you have settled into your new city and school, that things we may take for granted do not apply and may not concern a majority of the population of your new home. Belief in a god is not essential much less the practice of a religion (i.e., not everyone is Christian, not even in varying degrees of practice or belief), rice is not a staple, and obsession with the weather is a natural part of life (especially in the winter) are just a few examples. Our section“Being Filipino Abroad” describes what it’s like to be in a new culture.
*Living Independently
This might not be reflected in your transcript but doing things on your own is definitely a character-building experience. In the Philippines, it is very easy to delegate tasks. Household help cook meals, launder clothes, even clean up your room and the trail of mess you may leave in your wake. The office messenger delivers your mail, lines up for your bills, deposits your checks, photocopies and runs other little errands for you, all these while you’re out working or studying or generally being busy. Should there be an emergency, family members or friends are there to help.
It is expensive, and oftentimes unthinkable (but it has been known to happen!), for students to hire these same services while studying abroad. Your budget will quickly disappear if you insist on eating at a restaurant everyday, hire a housekeeper, or leave all your clothes and sheets at the cleaners! It may not seem like much, but things we would normally not have to worry about—like knowing how to open a bank account, cooking your meals, doing your own laundry, cleaning your place, and even photocopying—are things which will ultimately help in your adjustment.
*Perspective
Again, this is not quantifiable. Living abroad gave us a more realistic perspective of home, our host country, and even ourselves. We soon realized that the Philippines is not the center of foreign policy or even a priority in international news. People Power Two was barely a blip in the news radar, and we were hard put to find local news as we frantically flipped through the channels. We also learned to appreciate stuff we hated when we were back home and vice-versa. It also gave us an international perspective, since we not only had American classmates but fellow foreign students from all over the world as well.
*Prestige
As we mentioned earlier, a degree from abroad makes you stand out from the rest of the pack.
Cons
*Expensive
Studying abroad is expensive. Tuition fees are a great deal higher than the ones offered in the Philippines. If you see your education as a purely monetary investment, you might think there is a smaller rate of return, given the cost of your education. Aside from tuition fees, there are also other expenses such as board and lodging, transportation, entertainment, books, etc. These expenses can be defrayed by working part-time (Titchie worked as a student assistant in school), or getting a scholarship (Tricia received a Department Scholarship by working in the department). A good education may lead to a good job (and it usually does) that will make up for expenses later on. Our “Finance” section will give you tips on how to save money.
*Loneliness/Homesickness
Once the dust has settled, and the initial excitement has worn off, homesickness slowly creeps in. Titchie was lucky to have lots of family in New York; she also had friends studying and working in the U.S. Even with this support system, she still missed her family (and the family dog) as well as the comforts of home.
It can also get pretty tiring being a ‘visitor’ to a new city and culture. There will be times when you will seek the relief of talking in Filipino, instead of constantly trying to find the equivalent in your host country’s language; of eating daing, tuyo, adobo or binagoongan without having to apologize to your roommates or new-found friends for the smell.
*The Cultural Divide
Cultural stereotypes are unavoidable and in a post-9/11 world some people are a little leery of foreigners. We haven’t had any major negative experiences, but we have had some minor encounters. People have various misconceptions. Some do not expect you to be able to speak or understand English and will be clearly amazed when they see your grasp of the language; others will have great difficulty in understanding what you say (it is not that your English is grammatically wrong, hopefully, but that your accent will be different).
*Competitive Job Market Overseas
If you plan to work after you graduate and you are a Filipino citizen, be prepared for an uphill battle. Some countries prioritize the locals, the members of neighboring countries. Last on their list are foreigners. If you are not in a priority occupation (nurses, doctors, telecommunications, computer programmers are some of the most popular at this time), it will be more difficult to find work. Not impossible, mind you, just more difficult.
Weighing Your Options
First, decide what kind of studies you have in mind—undergraduate, graduate (MBA, MA, MPP, MS, etc.), post graduate (doctoral), or certificate courses. Undergraduate degrees may take 3-4 years to complete depending on the course Graduate degrees take a year to 2 years on average, but medicine, dentistry and law may take longer. Doctoral degrees take much longer depending on how long it takes you to write your dissertation.
There are various possibilities to studying abroad. If you are thinking of going to college in another country, the most likely thing to do is to go immediately after high school. For graduate students, there are more options. The most popular option is to work and gain experience first before heading straightaway to grad school. Most of the people we know worked for two years (at least) before they applied to schools overseas. The reason for the delay is simple: working gives you a better idea about what you want to do in the future. Graduate school can also be very specialized, and if you have work experience will give you some focus which will hold you in good stead during your studies.
Others who are immersed in the world of the academe might prefer to go to grad school immediately after receiving their undergraduate degrees. Some people opt for a program that combines a college and masters degree (in many cases a 4 to 5 year stint). Others also have the masters to doctoral degree option.
Certificate courses are the best option for people who only have 2 to 3 months to spare because of family and work responsibilities. This is also significantly cheaper than going for a whole year of school and can often be equally valuable.
If after weighing the pros and cons, and you think studying abroad still is not worth it, you can still pursue your graduate degree back home. Many of Titchie’s friends pursued their MBAs at AIM. Titchie actually started studying at the Ateneo Graduate School of Business before she was accepted at NYU. Another option are long distance classes (and Open Universities), or opting to become an exchange student. You can also go to a school affiliated with foreign universities like the Thames School of International Business, where they give the option of studying abroad after completing an advance diploma.
On Making a Decision
Studying abroad is a major decision and should not be taken lightly. It has been a life changing decision for many and it could be the same for you. When trying to make a decision, a pros and cons list can help sort out your thoughts. Since selecting your school can be a mind-boggling decision, we have made a listing of the criteria you need to consider when selecting a school:(1)Location, (2)Facilities, (3)Professors, (4)Ranking in Surveys, (5)Cost, (6)Accessibility, (7)Program, (8) Scholarships Available, (9)Graduate Feedback.
Tip: How accurate are College Guides? Before you start buying every available college guide, make sure you know the criteria for ranking schools. The popular “US News World Report Guide” bases 25 percent of the ranking on perceptions of university presidents, provosts, and admissions directors. It’s a good idea to use the guide to find out what’s out there but don’t base your decision on this alone.
You might want to read this article on how some liberal arts colleges are dropping out of the"US News World Report Guide -http://http//www.nytimes.com/2007/06/20/education/20colleges.html?ex=1340078400&en=a01c4ee3bff7473c&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink
On Getting a Scholarship
Getting a scholarship is not an intimidating prospect as it may appear to be. There are many scholarships out there and it is just a matter of finding them. We have compiled a list of scholarships available to Filipinos, but this is only the tip of the iceberg. You may also discover scholarships at your college once you begin the term. Be sure that you are aware of the specific requirements of every scholarship you may apply for. Scholarships like the Fulbright will have you return to the Philippines after you complete your studies.
If you are the recipient of a scholarship make sure you know what it covers so know what else you will need to pay for out of your own pocket.
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