Millions of people dream about going overseas to pursue their education. However, there are many steps that must be completed. this is the result of overseas education consultants. They help with university selection, the application process, as well as, the visa process. Unfortunately, because of all the opportunities, there are many cons. Education consultants are fraudulently taking advantage of the dreams of students.
This is why finding a legitimate consultant is the most important part of your education abroad journey.
Being Aware of the Alert Signs
Before we talk about how to find genuine consultants, we must address the issues first. These ‘consultants’ will often make the most outlandish claims, such as, guaranteed entry into universities of your choosing, no matter how poor your marks are. They will often be very pushy with making urgent decisions. This is because they do not want you to have time to do your research or compare your options. If a consultant is asking for a large sum of money (upfront) and there are no costs laid out they are not trustworthy. These people are also likely to not provide contracts that outline their services.
Loyal consultants know that studying abroad is a big investment and they will not take you by a storm or promise you something they cannot deliver.
Examine and Verify Qualifications
The initial process in locating a reliable consultant is extensive research. Find certified consultants by known and recognized institutions or are officially partnered with foreign universities. Numerous authentic consultancies have their accreditation and affiliation on their websites and office premises.
Determine whether the consultant is licensed by learning institutions or whether he/she is a member of professional organizations. An example is when you are looking in Overseas Education Consultants in Delhi NCR or Overseas Education Consultants in Kolkata, you must ensure that they are registered with local business authorities and see their history with past students.
Reviews and testimonials on the internet can be a good source of information, however, be wary of those testaments that are too good to be true. Find the reviews in as much detail as possible on independent sites and not only those found on the site of the consultant.
Simplicity in Services and Fees
The consultant will never hide their services and fee structure as mentioned by a legitimate consultant. They ought to give you a step-by-step analysis of the services that are involved like university shortlisting, applications support, visa information, and pre-departure support.
Watch out on consultants with hidden costs or ambiguous cost systems. All these are to be written down and there should be policies on how your money would be refunded in case you are not successful in your application. Respected establishments such as Taksheela Institute Of Education have adequate communication channels regarding the costs and deliverables where the students and parents know exactly the amount they are paying.
Individualised Counselling over Generic Solutions
Each student possesses his or her academic background, career objectives, and finances. True consultants will also spend time to learn your personal profile and then prescribe the universities or courses. They entirely investigate your school transcripts, test results and future ambitions.
When a consultant is pressuring in particular universities without taking your profile into account or sounds like he or she has an email-blast strategy, that is a red flag. Legitimate consultants provide tailored solutions and give you various solutions that suit your objectives and budget.
Examine Their Expertise and Achievement Level
The aspect of experience is important in education consulting industry. Consultants are longstanding professionals who have worked in the area of international admissions and visa processes. They have contacts with universities and are in touch with changing immigration policies.
Inquire the potential consultants regarding their success rate, however, seek the opportunity to talk to their previous clients. Real consultants will be more than happy to give you contacts of successful students who have availed their services. They will also have a physical office where you can meet their face to face instead of working on the internet or rather in the course of temporary offices.
Have faith in your intuition
Lastly, follow your gut feeling. When something is not right when you are dealing with a consultant then it is most likely it is not. Professional consultants are also learned, tolerant and ready to respond to all your queries without putting you under pressure or embarrassment.
The difference between an easy transition to your ideal university and a stressful experience is selecting the appropriate overseas education consultant. It is a time-consuming process, so carry out your research and do not settle for anything less than transparency and competence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the price range of educational consulting services?
A: Each consulting services range in fee depending on the scope of work and reputation of the consultant. Average range for educational consulting services is between ₹50,000 to ₹2,00,000. If you see a fee much lower than this, or a fee that is significantly higher than the average consulting fees with a high upfront fee, you should be especially cautious.
Q: Are consultants able to guarantee admission to a certain university?
A: It is impossible for any consultant to guarantee admission since that is outside the scope of his/her control. Admission to a university is dependent on a variety of factors, including, the applicant’s profile (academic background, test scores, and essays) and the applicant pool. What a consultant can do is guide the applicant in such a way that his/her chances of admission into a desired university is maximized.
Q: Should a consultant be the one to pay for the university application fees?
A: No, you should always pay university application fees directly to the university. Never pay cash or any personal account of someone to cover the application fees.
Q: What is the average length of the consultation process?
A: It is usually 6-12 months, depending on the specific country, intake period, and your level of preparedness.
Q: What materials should a consultant provide you?
A: You should be getting a service agreement which is signed, a detailed description of fees, a description of the services within specific time frames, and communication of your application status and progress on a regular basis. Everything should be in writing.