University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh's (ULAB) Department of English and Humanities Alumni Association recently held a virtual talk to guide students who wish to study abroad.
The talk, titled Aiming to Study Abroad: Behind the Scenes (Canada and USA), was held on Saturday, and was moderated by Rebeka Badiozzaman, a highly accomplished alumna of the department, and Mohammad Shams Ud Duha, a PhD student at Purdue University, US, according to a press release.
The two shared their experiences about the various aspects of studying abroad, in Canada and the US, respectively, beginning with the preparation phase.
They stressed the importance of the “Statement of Purpose” where students should highlight their personalities and weave a story by building connections among their different experiences.
Speaking about the basic requirements for applying to Canada or the US, Shams emphasized that students must allow enough time to prepare for standardized tests required by most US universities, such as the GRE.
Echoing the same, Rebeka, a learning technology and change management consultant with her own firm, added that finding the appropriate programs can prove to be overwhelming, so ample time and patience are needed.
To apply for a PhD in the US, Shams suggested the aspiring students on finding a suitable supervisor.
He also said that students should apply to a balanced selection of universities to increase their chances of success.
Meanwhile, Rebeka mentioned that the climate, living conditions, and living costs of the location must be considered carefully. She also emphasized the importance of mental health.
Speaking about funding for studying abroad, Rebeka noted that full funding is rare in Canadian universities.
Students should therefore have the funds to live in a foreign country and not rely on any part-time jobs to pay their way.
Besides, Shams described various options for funding in the US during the virtual event.
The speakers pointed out that students may not need a lot of experience or research before applying.
