What To Ask an Education Agent?

1
What To Ask an Education Agent?
2

• Evaluating your options for overseas education
  can be challenging. The wide array of choices
  often creates more confusion than clarity. Apart
  from that, application processes are often
  tenuous and its tough without proper assistance
  from an experienced professional.
• This makes the role of an education agent vital
  to your study abroad journey. Education agents
  are trained to provide clear and straightforward
  services to international students.
  They provide application assistance and share
  helpful advice with students pursuing a degree
  abroad.
• To make sound decisions and obtain clear answers
  to your concerns, you need to ask the right
  questions. Here are eight questions that you
  should ask education agent when subscribing to
  their services

3
What kind of services do you offer?

• Its important to define the roles and duties of
  the education agent. Some agents provide either
  counseling and application assistance or both.
  Some agents only provide support from the visa
  application stage and not for pre-arrival
  matters. 
• As a general rule, education agents aid in almost
  every aspect of student recruitment. With that
  said, they often have specialized expertise in
  the education system of certain study
  destinations.
• With this level of knowledge, education agents
  can help you with all your visa-related concerns.
  They can also aid you in selecting your preferred
  study program, although there will be other
  professionals available to help out.
• Note that all these services must come free not
  a single dime charged on your behalf. Remember,
  education agents earn based on commissions from
  the university, not from clients such as
  yourself.

4
How many students have you helped successfully
land an admission?

• Asking this question gives you a clear vision of
  the credibility of the education agent. Numbers
  speak for themselves and an agent with high
  successful cases is more likely to guarantee
  admission.
• Plus, higher successful admissions also means
  more diverse experience. Naturally, youll want
  to gravitate towards education agents with a
  well-rounded background in student recruitment.
• Keep in mind that their success admissions rates
  must be relative to their years of experience. Of
  course, seasoned education agents will have more
  success stories in their books than new ones.
• An agent with more years of experience isnt
  ultimately better than a new one though. But it
  does give you an advantage down the line during
  your college application. 

5
Which college or university do you offer?

• Education agents are recruitment representatives
  of the schools. Ask an agent about the school
  theyre representing and inquire about the
  programs and associated costs. 
• Moreover, agents are the ones with firsthand
  knowledge about the campus culture within the
  said university. Through this, you can get better
  insights into what its like to be a student
  under their wing.
• Certain universities also excel in specific study
  areas which you may want to look into. An
  education agent can also help you understand the
  facilities available to you to supplement your
  learning.
• Although education agents arent necessarily
  financial experts, they can also guide you in
  with tuition costs. In some cases, they can also
  lead you to scholarship options if youre an
  eligible candidate.

6
Do you have associates in the countries where
youll send students?

• Its extremely vital to have continuous support du
  ring your adjustment period in the host country.
  If they have associates or offices in different
  countries, further assistance is more accessible.
• The support you receive must extend during the
  course of your studies as well. It really makes a
  difference if an agents institution has offices
  in various parts of the world as well.
• If a physical office isnt in place, at least
  there should be online alternatives to tap into.
  For instance, ask your education agents
  availability on online channels for quick
  inquiries and advice.

7
What are the costs associated with my
application?

• Financial matters are a serious concern when it
  comes to studying overseas. As an international
  student, you need to have a comprehensive
  projection of the possible costs. These often
  include visa fees, application fees,
  accommodation, proof of funds, and more. 
• Your education agent can only give you a fair
  estimate, but it might be the closest calculation
  you can get. At least, youll have a better idea
  of how much to shell out before flying to your
  study destination.
• This is just a small part of their services, so
  dont expect an in-depth sit-down discussing
  these matters. What you must do is receive their
  advice, keep note of it, and see if there are
  avenues you can try to build your funds.

8
Which program is right for me?

• An education agent will help you sort through
  your program options. Asking this question would
  give you more insights into possible courses and
  potential career paths. 
• This is perhaps the most important advice an
  education agent can give you. Of course, you have
  to arrive at the best decision yourself, as the
  agent can only advise you on the situation.
• To maximize the process, you can ask your agent
  to list down the potential study programs you can
  take. Then proceed to talk about course
  requirements and associated costs of completing
  the program.
• Projections of career prospects may also help you
  decide on this matter. An education agent may
  provide you with all related information that
  will complement your personal research.

9
What are my options for financial assistance?

• Education agents offer guidance when looking for
  financial aid to study abroad. Financial
  assistance is necessary to sufficiently fund your
  education. An agent with extensive experience has
  access to contacts and lists of scholarships and
  student loans.
• However, not every student is an eligible
  candidate for all these kinds of financial
  assistance options. Thats where an education
  agent can come in and assess if your profile fits
  the criteria to maybe take out a loan or get
  scholarships.
• As mentioned, these agents normally have
  connections with student-lending institutions. If
  youre having a hard time contacting them, reach
  out to your education agent and they can help
  out.

10
What requirements do I need to supply?

• It is extremely important that all your documents
  are correct and complete before applying. To
  avoid complications, ask your agents about what
  requirements you should prepare. They will also
  help verify if your documents are accurate and
  acceptable.
• Remember, having all the right requirements can
  make or break your application. Its only sound
  to have a professional look over your documents
  and paperwork before sending them out to the
  university.
• Education agents already know every single
  requirement that you need to pass an admission.
  And if you want to, you can also create your own
  checklist just to be sure that you have
  everything in place.
• In addition to all these questions, dont forget
  to inquire about the lifestyle and customs in the
  host country. This will help you find
  destinations to visit, customs to follow, and
  certain activities to try.
• An education agent provides services to help you
  successfully secure admission to a school abroad.
  Read more of our articles here at MSM Unify to
  learn more about education agents.