The COVID 19 pandemic has shaken the world and put our lives on hold. There is hardly anyone not affected because of this catastrophe. Adapting to a new normal of less going out, more work from home, less spending on extravagance, more spotlight on cleanliness and wellbeing, and much more. From Business, Offices, Shopping complex, Restaurants, Theatres, Offices to the world economy, everything has stumbled down. With schools, colleges, and universities across the globe too shutting down to unprecedented times, one of the most affected categories amidst all is the students.

The circumstance has developed to a point where no one is safe from the dangerous infection; students are finding it hard to stay focused on their study abroad plans. Every year more than a million Indian students move to countries like Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States for Education. While the parents, students and even universities still trying to figure out what the plan for this year and the year to come would be, let’s focus on the things that should be considered at this time:

• Deferring Admission

With many countries still under lockdown and though the opening up signs are seen in some, the educational institutes will be amongst the last to be opened. The visa situation remains uncertain for the next few weeks. So if you already have the offer letter from university consider deferring your admission to next year i.e. 2021. If you haven’t applied yet then it is best to check with the university if they are accepting the applications at this time and follow the revised timelines. It is also expected that the overall acceptance rates in many colleges and universities will become slightly better for international students.
Utilize this time wisely in working towards your resume, statement, and developing your skillset by taking up online courses or gaining some experience. In 1665 when Cambridge University was closed because of the plague, Issac Newton worked from home. He discovered calculus and laws of motion at that time.

• Hybrid Learning:
COVID 19 might be an impetus to quicken the end of the conventional mode of education and adopt the online mode. Hybrid study – combining in-person and online learning is what many foreign universities have now started adopting. Such a sandwiched option is a solution for the fall ‘2020 intake where students can start his classes online at the comfort of their homes. When things get back to normal they can obtain their visa and get back to studying on campus. The benefit of such a hybrid education is that a student can save living expenses of that period and such online sessions are also a good way of getting familiar with the new culture before moving abroad.

• Exploring plan B:
With the 10th and 12th, std board exams being suspended and college results on hold many students have started looking for their plan B. Abandoning study abroad plan for a year or two and applying to the colleges and universities within India is something that the students should consider. During this time even the choice of countries might change for some. With countries like Germany and Canada topping the list for the way, they have handled this crisis and UK reinstating its 2-year post-study work visa. More clarity on the current year’s admission and intake will be obtained only in a few weeks when the universities reveal their September plans. “Wait and Watch” is the current trend amongst many now.

• Looking Ahead:
Studying abroad can be a life-changing experience and will continue to be the choice for students across the globe. While the educational institutes may adjust at some point or another to the e-learning practices, it may take a moderately longer effort to deal with the exceptional changes in student mobility.
Getting in touch with the university/ college of your choice will help you stay updated with the changes that they have planned. Duolingo English tests have now been accepted by more universities amidst the pandemic, many are offering virtual classes for a semester or up to a year (Cambridge University has decided to conduct all its classes online till summer of 2021).
The physical aspect of college and present financial conditions will continue to be important. For some taking online courses, for now, is the only option while for many others there is much more to the university than online lectures and assignments. While Altering the decision after having invested mentally and financially may not be a wise decision as well.

Continue focusing on what is right for you (your child), explore all your options, seek specialized help, and research enough before taking a well-informed decision.

Don’t Give Up on your Dreams.