HINDUSTAN TIMES, MUMBAI, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 06, 2012 04 When you think of who should study abroad, several stereotypes come to mind: rich kids from IB schools, total brainiacs from A-list colleges or IITians who want an MBA. Here I hope to muddle those stereotypes a bit and dispel some of the myths around the kind of students who can study abroad. MYTH 1: I AM NOT A TOPPER SO I CANNOT GET INTO ANY COLLEGE IN THE US Colleges like Harvard and Stanford are distant dreams for almost everyone. The good news is that there are over 2,500 four-year colleges in the US and thousands more in the UK, Australia and the rest of the world that welcome international stu- dents. If it is your SAT scores that are tripping you up, take a look at some of the testing-optional programmes. While parents often hesitate to spend on lesser-known colleges, such places often offer scholarships to offset the cost and still provide excellent resources, facilities and a valuable education that will prepare you for a great future. MYTH 2: MY FAMILY CANNOT AFFORD TO SEND ME TO COLLEGE IN THE US. IN FACT WE CAN BARELY AFFORD THE APPLICATION FEES I worked with two students last year who fit into this category—they studied in the HSC board, with 90% to 92% in ICSE, 78% to 82% scores in Class 11 and Class 12, and SAT scores just below 2000. They were both awarded Presidential Scholarships at the University of Richmond to study finance (ranked 15th in undergraduate finance pro- grammes by Business Week) and got additional aid to cover over 80% of their total expens- es for all four years. They are proof that deserving students can get a chance; however, they were strategic in creating this opportunity and it took a lot of hard work to find the right programme and aid package for them (they got other competitive offers as well). And incidentally, several of their application fees were waived. MYTH 3: I AM INTO SPORTS, NOT STUDIES Great news! The rest of the world values sports in a way that you may have never experienced. In the US, there are over 3,80,000 student athletes, many of whom are actively recruited to play for their college teams, thereby almost ensuring their admission. The process for recruitment is complicated and it is important to start early, but there are great resources for helping you get through the process (see box). And if you have been dedicated to a sport or activity, but do not have the talent or interest in pursuing it into college, your deep involvement in something other than studies will likely help to stand out in your application essays and extracurriculars. MYTH 4: I AM INTO ARTS, NOT STUDIES Again, as with sports, the dedication and discipline you demonstrate in pursuit of your art form will set you apart. It’s important that you are highly honoured in your chosen stream (whether kathak, painting or tabla), and that you have performed widely and won awards— simply being ‘interested’ in music and passing Trinity exams is not enough. This focus also allows you to consider some competitive arts colleges that offer an excellent education as well as a refinement of your craft. Still not sure that higher studies abroad is for you? Check out some of the resources I have shared, and research how realistic it is. Talk to anyone you know who has been abroad for college, and meet counsellors and representatives from a variety of colleges who visit Mumbai, or visit the country centres. The author is a study abroad advisor and co-founder of The Red Pen. For more discussion on Education Abroad with Kimberly Dixit visit her blog at theredpenmumbai.blogspot.in ‘Not restricted to rich kids & nerds’ study abroad Kimberly Dixit ■ USA: www.usief.org.in/Mumbai.aspx ■ UK: www.educationuk.org ■ Australia: www.studyinaustralia.gov.au ■ Learn more about US higher education including financial aid, athletic scholarships and other considerations: www.educationusa.info ■ Financial Aid and other resources: www. internationalstudent.com ■ Learn more about international athletes: www.athletes-usa.com GOVERNMENT SPONSORED INFORMATION AND GENERAL RESOURCES