Studying abroad can be so daunting, I know tell me about it as an international student I know exactly how you feel. Where do I start, what is the first thing to do, is this really possible?, the questions go on and on and on. Don't worry guys I got you, in this series I am going to be sharing with you guys all the tips and tricks you need to know about when thinking about studying abroad and how to go about it. I will also be living you guys with links so you could check them out for yourself and make an informed decision based on your personal research. Most people don't know how hard and intimidating this process is until you start, but not to worry I will be your guide all through this process. Feel free to leave any questions you have down in the comment section and I will be very happy to answer them to the best of my ability and also we all should share out tips and tricks with each other. I am so excited to start this journey with all of you and I hope you are willing to join me on this fun ride.

For this first series I am going to answer 5 of the most asked questions when it comes to deciding whether or not to study abroad I will go through them in todays post and for the next five weeks I will dedicate a post for each of them.

Is Studying Abroad Really For Me?
Sure the idea of studying abroad seems amazing and fun and interesting. It is basically a beautiful adventure but is it really for you. Before you even start this journey its important to  find out if this is a path you would want to take. Here are a couple of questions that I urge you to answer truthfully before you go any further.

• Do I like to travel?
• Do I like traveling to places I have never been before?
• Can I live without my friends and family?
• Can I live without my support system for a long period of time?
• Do I actually love exploring new culture?
• What is the most important thing I want to get from this experience academically, professionally and/or personally?

If you answer most of these questions "yes" then it is a great start for this journey of yours but if you answer most of the questions "no" then I believe this experience is not for you.The reality is studying abroad is it is an adventure, it is hard and its is not for everyone so if its not for you there is no problem but if it is then welcome for this amazing ride.
Photo by Joshua Rawson-Harris on Unsplash
When and Where Do I Study Abroad?
When choosing a destination there are many factors to consider. There are many destinations to choose from which may seem overwhelming especially if you don't have a particular place in mind and you have never left your home country. The first advice that I would give you is to start by narrowing down the locations you what to visit and having all the pros and cons for those locations, look for places that interest you for one reason or another. Have as many locations as you want because this is the primary draft.

After making your primary list the next step is to narrow down your idle location to specific criteria. This is going to help you narrow down your perfect location. the mistake that a lot of people make is that they choose the country or city they want to travel to first before actually looking at the features that that particular area has. When you actually choose the country first you actually limit yourself to what that country has to offer but when you figure out the type of life you want to leave then you have a lot of options to choose from. Some questions that you could ask yourself are;

• Do I want to leave in a place that English is the official language or a foreign language as the official language
• Do I want an urban experience or a more rural experience
• Do I want weather similar to that in my country or completely different fro my country
• Do I want a diverse population or a more native population where I want to live
• Do I want to leave in a centralized town with more to do or a distant location

These are just a few questions that you could ask yourself and this will help you make your decision better.

What program am I going to study abroad?
By now you have chosen where you want to study and now you are looking for what type of program do you want to take part in. First do you want a summer program, a semester program or a longterm program. That depends on you and what exactly you would like to get out of this experience. You also have to make sure that the field your interested in pursuing make sure the country is good at it. E.G don't study computer science in a school that is best known for Engineering so you know what I mean.
What is the financial situation (how am I going to pay for this?)
One of the biggest concern about studying abroad is how am going to afford it?. Many students and parents have to think about this really hard because it’s not only about paying your tuition but also how are you going to support yourself. One of the best way to finance a study abroad program is through schorlaship oppportuinties. If you decide to go through this route it is important to know that it is very competitive and so you have to apply to several different schorlaships to increase your chances or winning. Also you have to start early so that you have the time to do this correctly.

Once you have your tuition figured out you have to start saving up or budgeting for your daily expenses and this is why choose-ingredients to live in a place you can afford is very important because from that rough estimation you can actually know how much you need to save and Howe you would be able to raise that money. As you plan and budget prioritize what is important and what you can leave without and from there you will know how to save and budget for your trip.

There yo u have it a couple of tips and tricks on getting started with your study abroad dream. Hope this was helpful and if it was then please leave a comment down below because i would love to hear from you.