To err is human. We all have grown up hearing this quote multiple times in our lives. As such believing that we are perfect enough to not commit any mistake is to be naïve. Developing awareness of situations may, however, prevent us from big troubles, which may be overcome with much ease. The present article is an effort to delve into the 10 most common mistakes a student makes while studying abroad and ways to avoid them.

EXCESSIVE RELIANCE ON TECHNOLOGY

Technology is like a power-point presentation. If you rely entirely on it without any introspection and insight, you will fail to strike any appeal on the listeners. Similarly, it is with technology. Excessive reliance on technology makes us a victim to it. In fact, you should rule the technology rather than technology ruling you. Take a case in point. Which option is better? Reading a map or really walking on the road. Without a shadow of the doubt, it can be well reasoned that travelling actually on the road will be far better than having just an idea. In fact, doing the things for real eliminates the fear factor. Likewise, borrowing ideas from secondary sources like internet and journals though may be good, real-time discussion with friends, seniors, and faculty members are way more productive and insightful. For technical subjects like mathematics, computer science, and engineering, it is by really working on the problem and applying the mechanics that you will learn more and become effective in problem-solving. Smart Learning apps are meant for assistance and not the replacement of traditional learning methods.

LOW AWARENESS OF HOST CULTURE

In our previous article, we said that over 80% of success depends on our psychology i.e. how we interact with ourselves and others, while the remaining 20% can directly be linked with our knowledge. As a result, understanding the host country culture and human relations is imperative to career growth. After all, evidence-based research shows that job hunting and career success primarily depends on sound professional Networking.  Understanding the host culture and entering into their world will help you avoid the trap of assuming that only academic excellence is required for professional success. Academic performance will assist you in getting an entry into the professional world, but it is awareness both personal and professional that will make the growth sustainable.

GRAVITY OF HABIT

Change is hard. We all understand and have felt that. But if the change is rewarding enough in the future, we should be willing to pay the price for it. Just going overseas for higher learning isn’t going to provide you with a bountiful harvest, until and unless you put in your sweat and effort by utilizing your intelligence and intellect toward assimilating the subjects and creating ways for application of your learning. If you just go on learning without applying your learning in practical ways, chances are your standards will remain the same even after increasing the number of your degrees. How do we know, if we have learnt anything great?? This can only be answered in the affirmative if there’s radical behavioural change. Yes, if you have changed, you have learnt. If not, the learning was wasteful.

CALLING UP HOME EVERYDAY

Look, it may sound harsh though, are you in a foreign country to learn or to have fun. You and your parents both have to understand that to reap any measurable return on investment, you’ve got to be a serious learner. There’s a price to pay for everything under the sun. Core fundamentals of life don’t ever change. Calling up home every day will waste a great deal of precious time which should be utilized in your studies and developing networks. If you are inclined toward getting back home after 2-3 years, you still have that choice. If you want to work overseas and design a great career that again is a great thing. Either way, your parents will be happy. Talk to your parents and friends in the home country only once or twice every week. Rest of the time build on your future. The 2 years will soon be over and in the end you’ll have to leave the college/university. Schedule your tasks way ahead and give it a priority number in terms of frequency, urgency, and importance. This way you will reap the maximum benefit out of your study abroad experience.

WORKING PART TIME

Yes, you heard that right. Most often we find students desperately seeking a study abroad destination wherein they have part-time work permit while studying. From experience, we understand that if you plan to work in your leisure hours to manage your expenses during the study, there’s a greater chance that you won’t be much successful in either of the activities. In fact, though counter-intuitive it may seem, leisure is an integral part of learning. Leisure time could be better utilized for professional networking, developing strong skills in word and excel, business communication, gaining competency in office tools and applications, or even creating a relevant industry and company database. We are quite convinced in saying that part-time work requirement in the majority is borne out of Poor Financial Management. No country permits a candidate without adequately checking for his or her financial diligence. If after all this, if you are still seeking part-time work, chances are that either you are living beyond your expenses or that you have poor financial management skills.

THINKING LEARNING IS FUN ALWAYS

If you too are sold with this idea, you are fooled big time. Learning isn’t fun, but it definitely can be made more interesting. Even after all sorts of technologies at the place, real learners have to put in great efforts to master the understanding of the subject. At times it will be really tough and boring. Even technology won’t be of much help. Understanding this truth and anticipating well in advance such challenges will give you an edge over your competition. We have a suggestion to make over here. Since time is limited and the pressure to perform will be huge, you could develop a strong alliance with your peer group and distribute the topics among yourselves. Once having mastered the respective topics, you all then could explain your understanding of the chapters to others and in exchange receive valuable insights on areas you didn’t find much time. This way you could all create synergistic outcomes and experience deep satisfaction.

FEELING HOME SICK

Look you will be there for a purpose. Your parents will have spent a big chunk of hard earned money for your growth and freedom. It is futile to waste time and resources thinking about home every now and then. First, you’ve to understand that you are far from your home and won’t be back in a moment. Second, by dwelling on those things you will lose out on the things you have at the present. The best solution is to live in day tight compartments. Make yourself insanely busy with activities, learning, and networking. If you have enough tasks at the place, you won’t have time to think about the rest. Eliminate all the clutter in the form of social networking sites and talking over phones for hours and hours. Start seeing time in terms of quality and not quantity.

CONSTANTLY WORRYING ABOUT EXPENSES

Living alone will give you enough survival skills to manage through the weeks and months. Problems are always momentary inconveniences. When we are hard pressed for the solution, we, in fact, come up with a solution. Worry can only exist till the time you aren’t ready for the solution on your own and expect the challenge to go on its own. It is better to plan than worry about finances. Plan and write a balanced budget mentioning weeks and expenses. Categorize your expenses under fixed and flexible expenses. Eliminate 70% of needless needs and also keenly observe the time you are with friends and times you are alone. It may sound a bit childlike, but buy a piggy bank and put some money daily to provide for the rainy days.

STAYING ALOOF!!!!

Networking is absolutely essential for rapid career growth. Rather than leading an ascetic lifestyle, you should maintain a specific time when you will engage in serious talks with seniors, local students and the like to know more about companies, places, and scope in the host country. Diligence, industry awareness and team playing skill sets are the most in demand by companies and institutions. First-hand advice is significantly more valuable than information on the internet. It’s like the difference in walking on the road itself and just reading a map. The map is never the territory, the road is. In fact, all the professional networking and alliances will hugely payoff during summer internships and final placements. After all, it’s hard to find a rich hermit.

TRAVELLING MOST OF THE TIME

Make a list of places to visit while staying abroad and then cut it down by at least 70 per cent. You will be left with only 5 – 6 places to visit in a span of 2 years. It is both feasible and also the right thing to do. Unnecessary travel will drain you of both energy and time. That saved energy and time can and should be divested to more productive pursuits like studying and networking.

STUDYING ALL THE TIME

All work and no play make Jack a dull boy. We all have grown up with this quote. In fact, this makes perfect sense. Towards the far extreme with diminishing advantage is to study whole days and nights.  After all what good will it serve to know the price of everything and value of nothing? The real objective shall be to strike the right balance in these 5 critical areas – Study, Recreation, Networking, Food and Travel, and Sleep – to reap the maximum output.

Source:- http://global-studyinuk.blogspot.com/2018/10/10-common-mistakes-students-make-while.html