Studying overseas is an extremely novel and attractive idea; given to a young Singaporean student, even more tempting. Pursuing an education overseas has many merits and many pitfalls, which will be uncovered and analyzed in this essay. Only when we weigh up all the factors leading to this presumption of overseas education not being worth its weight in gold, will we truly be able to understand the truth in this statement. One of the merits of studying overseas would be being exposed to different cultures.
When a student is exposed to different cultures at this developmental stage, he or she will learn to adapt to the new environment and experience culture shock at an earlier age. This in turn helps the student better develop his or her adaptability to different surroundings and how to better deal with sudden changes in whatever task he or she may be undertaking at that point in time. When said student grows up, he or she will be more prepared to enter the working world and cope with various demands like overseas attachment programs or going overseas to negotiate deals in our constantly changing world, which is growing more independent.
An example of someone who has studied overseas is the 42nd President of the United States Bill Clinton. According to a thesis done by Thomas I. Wortman, who holds of a degree in Doctor of Philosophy from the Pennsylvania State University, Clinton cites the importance of international study and educational exchange as “being critical components to meet challenges in an increasingly independent world”. Despite not being a Singaporean student, what Clinton cited is relevant to students of all nationalities studying away from their home country.
The Essay on Why overseas students choose to study at Australian universities
As the world becomes more of a global village people have it has enhanced the mobility of people from one place to another more efficiently than it used to happen in the past. This has many sectors to experience great change. One of the sector that has undergone a lot of revolution as a result of globalization is education. This is because it is possible for people to different parts of the world ...
Therefore, the experience of studying overseas is an excellent one as it aids us in one of the processes we undergo as we grow up. Another merit of studying overseas is the liberal education received in an educational institution overseas compared to the education received in a local institution. In local universities such as the National University of Singapore (NUS), a lot of emphasis is placed on the results obtained rather than the processes of obtaining said results, making the learning process very rigid and mundane, which is ultimately a turn-off for most people.
This way of learning also restricts creativity and encourages selfishness amongst students since everyone is competing against each other to obtain the best results. In an overseas institution such as the California Institute of Technology, less emphasis is placed on results, with first-year students being enrolled based upon only their passes and fails in their subjects, instead of by the number of distinctions they have obtained. There is little to no competition between students as they are encouraged to collaborate on homework and projects, allowing them to brainstorm together and share ideas, encouraging creativity among students.
Less emphasis is placed on the examinations as a form of assessment as well, with their Honor System encouraging take-home tests and flexible homework schedules. Students have the liberty of taking their tests and examinations home to complete and also have the liberty of assigning their own deadlines for homework. This way of learning is extremely liberal, ensuring that students receive an education instead of just functioning as robots to churn results.
The Essay on Some Of The Advantages And Disadvantages Of Overseas Study
Firstly, studying overseas provide students with a different experience compared to local schools. Students have to adapt to the new environment which includes sharing rooms with peers, experiencing the four seasons and speaking in languages that could be well understood. Since students are always interested in experiencing different things, many chose to study overseas. Secondly, staying ...
Thus, the experience of studying overseas is a great one as it promotes receiving a liberal education, something that is greatly unheard of locally. However, studying overseas also has its pitfalls. One of the greatest pitfalls faced would be the feeling of homesickness and alienation one faces in the initial stages of the overseas study, especially without having any friends of the same nationality to accompany them overseas. After having studied in the Little Red Dot for most of one’s life, one would find it a little hard to cope initially with the huge paradigm shift.
The feeling of having a family to return home to after a long day at school, or having a scrumptious feast of home-cooked food prepared with love after school is one that cannot be felt when one chooses to study overseas. When one steps into a foreign land to study for a period of time, the initial culture shock may be too great to bear and the sense of alienation comes on too strongly. Something that is considered taboo in our society may not be as serious in a foreign land, and this certainly takes some getting used to.
Even though it is possible to recover from the shock and possible to overcome the feelings of alienation, it might not be possible to feel a sense of belonging and pride while overseas as one may be alone and not find somebody else of the same nationality in this foreign land. In the International Journal of Intercultural Relations, Volume 35, Issue 3 by B. Hendrickson, D. Rosen and R. K. Aune, it is noted that students with more friends from their home country in their social circles had decreased homesickness and better social connectedness, thus having less alienation.
Therefore, the experience of studying overseas is not as great as it is made out to be, especially if you have very few friends in your social circle. All in all, studying overseas is has its positive points which most people do enjoy and its negative points which most people also do not enjoy and simply abhor. Personally, I feel that, even though studying overseas has its setbacks, its merits outweigh its pitfalls and the experience is unique to every person who chooses to go through it. Thus, I feel that studying overseas is definitely not over-rated and I myself would definitely love to do so after graduating from the local junior college.
The Essay on Overseas Study in Australia
Currently, the number of students who are willing to study in Australia is increasingly high. The overseas study in Australia can be described as university level study by non-Australia students ,these students unusually speak English as a second language and are aged 18 to 20. There are following factors for this situation. First of all, comfortable climate is very supportive of successful study. ...
