Your questions answered

Getting Ready for Talk Global Study

Entering an online event isn’t exactly like walking into a physical education fair, but it is similar – plus you can do it from anywhere in the world!

For a few hours, hundreds of students will be chatting with international universities, colleges and government organisations to get advice on what it takes to study overseas.

Finding the perfect overseas study destination is not an easy task, but during online events such as Talk Global Study, universities, colleges and schools from all over the world are represented and you are free to gather information, consider your options, and perhaps even begin the application process.

What could be more exciting?

You will have woken up that morning without a destination, but by the end of the day you could have begun your journey to the United States, Canada, UK, Australia, Japan, or wherever you think would suit you best.

But is that the best way to approach it? Among the excitement, it can be easy to get carried away, or to spend too much time talking to just a few admission representatives or not get the answers that you truly need.

With so many institutions available to speak with, there’s a danger that you only really end up with a surface level understanding of many of them, rather than a preferred deeper understanding of the few that truly interest you. Making the most out of Talk Global Study means you should do some planning before you (virtually) walk through those doors.

Register early!

Spaces for each event are limited so that everyone has time to talk with all the universities and education institutions they want to, so make sure you apply and complete your registration as soon as possible.

Check your email regularly too, as you’ll be sent some really important details about the event in the days leading up to it such as the catalogue with a list of all the participating international institutions as well as the live webinar schedule.

Do your research

The first thing you should consider before registering for Talk Global Study is the list of participating institutions and which ones you are most interested in.

Consider the event like a huge buffet – there is lots on offer, but it isn’t necessarily wise to try and eat everything. Take a look at what is available and narrow down the list to your favourites. You will receive a catalogue with a list of institutions in advance and they are also listed on the event website.

You may even want to take some time to visit the websites of the institutions which most interest you so you already know a lot of information before you chat personally with them and then you can use that time to find information you could not find earlier online.

Prepare some questions

While researching, consider writing up a brief list of questions to ask. By asking each school similar questions, you will get a far better understanding of each’s benefits.

For example, rather than ask questions about class size, instead ask what the most popular courses are. In this way, you can see which courses that institution is strongest at. Avoid asking something like “How good is this course?” since college representatives will always paint a positive picture of the courses they provide. Instead ask about the location, or the main focus of the course.

If you are undecided about which degree or subject you would like to take, you can ask about the services and support an institution is able to supply, or if there are options to defer choosing a major course – it’s not uncommon for students to take classes in several subjects at first, for example, or switch degrees after some time in a course.

You can also ask about extracurricular activities, the type of student that the college is looking for, or any other concerns you may have.

Have the right device

During online events such as Talk Global Study, you can chat with representatives via text, video or audio. Before joining the event, consider whether your device is appropriate for use. No matter whether you use a phone, a laptop, a home computer, or something else entirely, check to make sure your device is fully charged and the microphone and camera have been turned on. If it is going to be noisy around you, make sure you have headphones to hear properly or better still, find a quiet place where you will not be disturbed.

Most importantly, make sure you are in a place with a strong Internet connection. It can be frustrating for everyone involved if you keep cutting out or get disconnected.

Prepare for the day

During  Talk Global Study, there are live webinars or information sessions. These are given by experts or government organisations and can give you essential information to help you choose the perfect overseas course. Double check the schedule so you make sure you don’t miss out.

When it comes to your meetings, as well as understanding which institutions are attending and having some questions ready for them, it is important to make good notes of your conversations. You can do this right after each conversation, so it acts like a record of your discussion. It can also be a good idea to have a pen and paper handy just in case.

After Talk Global Study is over

After the event, you may feel a little tired from chatting to so many people in such a short time. That’s perfectly normal! Over the following days, you should read through the notes you made as well as the details of the places that particularly interested you.

With hindsight and a fresh perspective, you can revisit your thoughts and see what truly fascinates you. Perhaps you have thought of some new questions that you would like answered. Now you can continue the process by contacting the institution or representative directly – who usually will have given you their contact details or sent you an email..

No matter what you decide, taking time to participate in Talk Global Study is an essential step if you are truly serious about finding your perfect overseas course, so register now for Talk Global Study. Remember places are limited!