It’s been a long time since I wrote the first part. I’ve been lazy and to some extent confused over what I would write about next. I wanted to try and make everything sequential hence the confusion. Finally, I decided to talk about the basics of studying abroad in this post.

Going abroad is a big decision. Staying away from family, the kind of money involved, living in a foreign land, and having to deal with life pretty much on your own, are daunting issues. But first and foremost, there ought to be some kind of motivation for going abroad. It could be anything - frustation over the Indian education system, inability to secure admission in your desired college, better opportunities outside the country, etc. There needs to be something that drives you and motivates you towards a foreign education. Once you have a reason, you can look at the pros and cons of studying abroad. In your eyes, do the pros outweigh the cons? If your anwer to this question is yes, then, sure, go ahead and apply. If you answered no, then you should go back and reconsider your decision and whether your reason is really justified.

Part of the decision-making process involves thinking about the money that needs to be spent to procure an education abroad, particularly so in the US. Total annual costs can run as high as $50,000 for an undergrad degree and even more for a graduate program. Scholarships are a necessity in most cases and any financial assistance you can garner will go a long way in making sure that your education is hitch-free. If your parents don’t make a lot of money, then you should particularly look at programs where your chances of obtaining financial aid are maximum.

Have you ever lived alone, without your family for an extended period of time? If not, do you think you can manage it? These are the questions that you need to ask yourself. Emotionally, you must be prepared to deal with living 8000 miles away from home. Convincing your heart will be one of the toughest things to do. When I left my parents at Mumbai airport, my mother could no longer hold back her feelings and broke down. I somehow managed to suppress my feelings and had to tell my mom to not cry and that I’d be back in no time. She has handled all my future return trips much better - with a smiling face. It makes my job that much easier. My father’s not one to be easily swayed by emotion.

When I came here, it was my first trip out of the country and my first long-distance trip alone. Once I left my parents, I was all on my own. No one to tell me if what I was doing was right. No one to guide me. No friends. Thankfully, there were no problems at all. I even saw Kareena Kapoor at Frankfurt airport - she was standing and yawning. Coming back to the point, you have to be pretty confident that you can handle things on your own and can take care of yourself. After you leave the comfort of your home, you better learn to adjust quickly else you’ll fall behind and will find it hard to cope with the stress. It’s just like starting life in a new place - the only difference is that this is a new country and you are alone. Things that you might take for granted at home now suddenly become major issues.

So, after all that, if you still think that you can handle a life in a country not your own, then my friend, you can take the next step towards realizing your dream. Next one will be soon. Much, much sooner than the gap between parts one and two. The next one will probably be about selecting the right universities. I guess I’ll drop the “Part” moniker and assign a name to each of the new posts.