Connect with a peer mentor before you apply for university abroad.
Make hindsight even more wonderful using your near peers to guide you and share their experiences before studying abroad.
Choosing the right university course can be a daunting task, especially if you are one of the 5-million plus students that apply for university and study abroad each year. The decision-making process is made even more complicated when you don’t have any prior knowledge or experience of the course or university. While work experience is a great way to gain practical skills, it doesn’t offer the same level of insight into university life as near peer experience. Near peers are students who have recently completed the same course, and they offer an invaluable source of information to incoming students before they have stated their application for university to study abroad.
Near peer experience is particularly crucial when applying for universities abroad. University cultures and teaching styles can vary significantly from one country to another. As a result, it is essential to gain a thorough understanding of the course and the university’s culture and expectations before making your decision.
Social media and university open days are not always a reliable source of information. Universities may present a biased view of their course and university life, and students may not be entirely truthful in their feedback. That’s where peer-to-peer platforms such as The Apply Group ‘TAG’ can be beneficial. TAG connects prospective students that are considering studying abroad with near peers who have completed the same course in the same university. This provides incoming students, often from the same country as their mentors, with a wealth of first-hand knowledge and experience that is both unbiased and trustworthy.
Apply for University with Near Peer Experience
Near peer experience offers several benefits that can help incoming students make informed decisions and succeed in their chosen course. One of the main advantages is the insider knowledge of the course content and expectations. Near peers have recently been through the same course and can provide detailed information on what to expect, from coursework and assessments to extracurricular activities and social life.
Near peers can also provide valuable insights into the university culture and social life. They can offer advice on how to adjust to a new culture, make friends, and find support when you need it. Additionally, they can provide a realistic view of the course workload and requirements and offer advice on how to manage your time effectively and succeed in your studies.
Networking and mentorship opportunities are additional benefits of near peer experience. Near peers can introduce incoming students to professors, alumni, and other professionals in their field of interest. This can provide opportunities for mentoring, advice, and even job shadowing. Additionally, near peers can offer guidance and support throughout the university journey, from adjusting to university life to succeeding in coursework and extracurricular activities.
How to Gain Near Peer Experience
There are several ways to gain near peer experience when applying for university abroad. Peer-to-peer platforms such as Apply for University provide an excellent opportunity to connect with near peers who have completed the same course in the same university. This provides incoming students with unbiased and trustworthy information about the course and university. The mentors on the TAG platform are specifically international students, that have already made their journey to study abroad.
Many are from the same demographic, and even the same town city as you, so you can really relate to their insights.
Another way to gain near peer experience is to connect with alumni from the university course of interest. Alumni can provide insights into the course and the university’s culture and expectations. Social media platforms can help, but they come with a warning of caution: you can’t really verify who they are, what their motive to help might be. So be warned on making such big life-changing decisions on before you embark on applying for university and study abroad.
It is also important to keep an open mind and be willing to ask for help. University life can be challenging, and it’s okay to seek out support and advice. Near peers can provide a unique perspective on the course and can offer guidance on how to succeed. Succeed all the way to graduation and even securing an internship via TAG’s: Apply for Internships.
Gaining near peer experience is an essential component of making informed decisions when applying for universities abroad. Social media and university open days may not always provide unbiased and trustworthy information. Peer-to-peer platforms such as TAG offer an excellent opportunity to connect with near peers who have recently completed the same course in the same university. Near peer mentoring experience offers several benefits, including insider knowledge of the course content and expectations, advice on university culture and social life, and networking and mentorship opportunities. By gaining near peer experience, incoming students can make informed decisions and succeed in their chosen course.
Furthermore, near peer experience can help incoming students prepare for the challenges and opportunities of studying abroad. Going to Study abroad can be an incredible experience, but it can also be a significant adjustment. Near peers can offer insights into what to expect from the academic and social aspects of studying overseas in a foreign country. This can include tips on how to adjust to a new culture, navigate new environments, and make the most of the experience.
Near peer experience can also help incoming students to better understand the job market and career prospects in their chosen field. Near peers can offer insights into the specific skills and knowledge that are valued in the industry, and how to develop these skills while at university. They can also provide information on internships, work experience opportunities, and graduate schemes that can help students get a foot in the door.
In addition to peer-to-peer platforms and connecting with alumni, there are other ways to gain near peer experience when considering a university course abroad. Many universities offer buddy or mentoring schemes, where current students are paired with incoming students to provide guidance and support. Attending university open days and speaking with current students or ambassadors that the university has selected (and usually pay or reward in some way,) is no longer the ideal way to get a real , impartial or authentic insight. A peer mentor has your interests are heart, not the interests of their university.
It is important to note that while near peer experience can be invaluable, it should not be the only factor in making a decision about a university course. Students should also consider other factors such as the course content, teaching style, location, and cost, which can mount up and surprise especially for international students that study abroad. However, near peer experience can provide a unique and invaluable perspective that can help students make more informed decisions, as they can provide actual day-to-day information.
To conclude, near peer mentoring is a critical component of making informed decisions when applying for university, particularly when you have a strong desire to study abroad.
TAG also operate Apply for Medicine for those interested in apply for medical school only.
Kal Makwana, reach out to me on LinkedIn here
