Contents:

1. Introduction 
2. Knowing Your Career Options 
3. Understanding Quality of Education 
4. Benefits of The Non-Academic Experience 

The non-academic experience 

This would be the biggest reason that students vie for that opportunity to study abroad. Living alone overseas is indeed tremendously different from staying in the comforts of one’s own home. Your child will definitely gain more experience to become more street-smart or mature in his or her thoughts. 

Whether it is the challenge of adapting to a more dynamic society, or being faced with the prospect of having to know the underlying social norms and unspoken rules, a life overseas is radically different from the one at home. Apart from cooking meals and doing the laundry, your child also has to find his way in a country alien to him, and deal with setbacks without the physical support of family. All these will allow your child to emerge more confident and independent. 

Of course, there is always the option of gaining the overseas experience through staying on campus. This more or less provides a close simulation of what independent living would be like, without having to enroll overseas. Also, today, there are many student exchange programmes offered by our local universities, for example, the Singapore Management University’s (SMU) Study Abroad Programme. 

An overseas education may not suit everyone, whether it is due to cost concerns or other factors. There is actually little compromise, in terms of prestige, quality of education and non-academic experiences. Hence it is crucial to understand the various needs of your child and make the right choice. 

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