STEM careers are so overrated. It seems that they focus more and more on one’s academic ability but not much on the actual talents and skills that make up a person. Who wants to become a doctor or engineer anyways? When there’s an entire world out there that prioritizes the ability to create and appreciate beautiful and emotional artworks?

If you’re among the lucky people who have been blessed with some sort of artistic ability, and are extremely talented with a pencil or pen or charcoal, it can be hard to figure out what you can do that can be made into a career. To help you out and, in some ways, appreciate your unmatched talents, we’ve compiled a list of potential careers within the field of arts that you can pursue:

• Professional artist: They train extensively within their choice of arts and use their skills to express a meaning or feelings within their art and what they do. Within this job, you can truly think outside the box and get to create things you love, with meanings behind them that only the brightest of minds can decipher.
• Illustrator: They create 2D images (illustrations) for various companies and industries, based on the employer’s ideas and needs. You get to put life into someone’s thoughts and make their imagination come to life.
• Animator: They produce images called frames, which when lined up together, create an illusion of motion. You get to create the cartoons that kids of the new generation will grow up watching and loving.
• Graphic Designer: They use computer software to create visual concepts to attract consumers. You would create some of the best aspects in the advertisements that people see on TV or on neon signs and truly bring life to art.
• Art Teacher: They educate students in all aspects of art as well as the practical skills of creative expression. What better way to express your love for art than by teaching others to love it too?
• Fashion Designer: They sketch and create original designs of clothing, footwear and accessories. You would create and set trends that people would see all over their Insta feed and on the lit-up stages of Fashion and Couture weeks!
• Motion Graphics Designer: They create and edit imagery in a live action shot, which might also contain animation and special effects. You would manage to combine real-life as we know it, with the animated realm that we grew up watching and loving!

To read more blogs as such, please click here.

As an A-Level Pre-Med student, I remember the all-nighters that I pulled to make sure I was at the top of my game. I gave my AS exams in the Oct-Nov session of 2020, and got 3 A’s in my exams, and got predicted grades for my 2021 May-June session for A2, in which I received 3 A*s. I know what it’s like giving pre-mocks, then mocks and then the actual exam itself and how tedious and stressful it can be.

A-Levels for me were a time where I truly enjoyed myself. It sounds unbelievable, but it’s the honest truth! The time I’ve spent in my A-Levels and the memories I’ve made are unforgettable, and the hard-work I put in is irreplicable but something I’m very proud of myself for. Thus, today I’ve decided to help you out too! I know Mocks are coming up soon and everything seems so jam-packed and stressful, but I’m here to give you the honest breakdown of what I did, and what you could do, to get the grades you deserve. Here’s a mini-list of everything you could do to get A*s in your A-Levels!

Time Management! How are you spending those seconds!

The absolute first thing that I did and what YOU should be doing is figuring out how you will be spending your time going into your study sessions, weeks before you go for your exam. I would print out calendars for 2 months before the exam and start planning out what I would be doing daily about 4-6 weeks before the exams start. I would plan out about 3-5 days revising each subject, depending on the curriculum and what the level of difficulty is. For example, physics is not my favorite subject and it takes me longer to comprehend its topics. I would set out about 5 days where I revise all the chapters and solve topical past papers for the chapters, I’m weakest in. So, my schedule would look something like:

• Sunday: Chapters 1-3
• Monday: Chapters 4-6
• Tuesday: Chapters 7-9
• Wednesday: Chapters 10-12

I would group the chapters together, so for Sunday I’d study all of general physics and related topics, on Monday I’ll do all chapters under Waves, on Tuesday I’ll do all chapters under Electricity, etc. etc.

Then I would spend the next few days doing the same for my other subjects. Once I’ve revised everything, I’ll set out days to practice past papers on. I would cover about 3 years’ worth of past papers for one subject a day and then do another subject the next day, and another subject the day after that. This would make sure I’m doing all of my subjects and not falling behind in any of them.

Time management is very important when studying for your exams. You could invest in a planner to keep you on track, or any other such organizational method. To get yourself in the habit of studying, you could start using a work/reward system, such as the Pomodoro system, where you study for 25-30 minutes and then take a break for 5, and then over time your work sessions can increase to 40-60 minutes.

To manage your time efficiently, you could go through your harder subjects and the harder topics first, and leave the easier topics to revise for later. Thus, spending more time on the things you actually need to tackle, and less on the things you already know.

How to Study

The first and foremost thing you need to do, is go through the syllabus outline. The syllabus outline covers extensively, everything that you need to know for your exams. Understand what is required of you and what concepts you should know going into your exam.

Then, you sit down to study. In my time in A-Levels, I used to make rough lecture notes during my classes, and then when I was studying on my own, I’d open my coursebook and other related coursebooks and make my own notes based on all the content I could find. This helped me retain a lot of information, get a better handle on the syllabus content and revise everything I learned in class. These notes would contain every information that was out there and were very thorough and thus I didn’t have to study from anything else but my own notes.\

When it came to revision, I would go through my notes first. Once I did that, if there were any topic I didn’t understand, I’d look up lectures related to those topics online. Once I got a grip on the concepts, I’d sit down to make revision notes. These revision notes could be flashcards or notes on a loose-leaf, and these contained all the little details I would need while attempting past papers. So, for physics, my revision notes consisted of all the formulas, definitions, laws, phenomena, processes and graphs that I needed to remember.

Then once I’m done with this, I’d sit down to go through past papers. I don’t think students know how important past papers truly are. They’re vital in your revision because you get to get a hang of the sort of questions that could come (and most of the questions are often re-worded), it helps you go through different concepts very quickly, you understand how to develop answers, and you’re actively recalling all the information you revised. Thus, past papers were a must in my revision. I probably solved past-papers from 2006 onwards for my exams. I went through all the variants, all the years, all the questions, and this really prepared me for all sorts of questions that might be asked. I used to have the past papers open on my laptop, while I wrote down my answers on a piece of paper, or in a notebook or on a whiteboard. Then I’d check all of my answers using the mark scheme. Where the mark scheme doesn’t make sense, I’d refer to the examiner reports. The examiner reports are clear statements from the examiners themselves on what to do and what not to do, and going through those, you’ll understand better what an examiner wants in your answers.

You need to understand what your method of studying is. For me, it was by visual learning and writing down everything. Once you understand what way you can learn better, try to develop a study routine by integrating methods that suit you best. E.g.; if you’re an auditory learner, you can watch lectures or videos of solving past papers to revise.

During my mocks, me and my friends used to group call and everyone would mute ourselves but we had our cameras open. Seeing others study, often motivates you to study as well, and so we made sure we were all working hard and no one was slacking off. I also used to put on calm music while I studied; this provided background music and let me concentrate better and made me actually enjoy studying. While I did past-papers, I’d put on more groovy songs that make you want to get up and dance, and this would help me remain active and alert while I solved questions.

Before I started studying, I’d make little sticky notes with motivational quotes and such that would make me smile whenever I looked at them and this would also put me in a better mood. When I took breaks, I would go eat snacks or watch a YouTube video, anything to make me forget studies for that short period of time and this, I’ve seen, really refreshes your brain. But you need to have a lot of self-control and make sure you don’t get distracted.

What to before the exam:

Before going in for the exam, I’d make sure to get at least 5 hours of sleep. When your brain is well-rested, it’ll be able to process things better and work more efficiently. I also made sure to have a good breakfast, something that makes me more awake. I’d do quick revisions on anything that I think I should still go through and go through questions that I missed out on. Before going into the exam, id talk with my friends, make a few jokes and make myself feel relaxed. The better you feel, the better the outcome will be.

What to do during the exam:

Read the questions very carefully. Understand what exactly they’re asking and look out for keywords. Underline the actual question in the text. Pace yourselves and don’t be in a hurry to finish the exam, rather make sure you’re answering and giving all possible details in your answer that would be required. Do not panic, and if you feel like you are, look up and close your eyes, take a deep breath and remind yourself that you’ve got this. If there’s a particularly tough question that you can’t figure out then mark the question and move on to the next. Come back to that question later on after you’ve done the rest. Once you’re done with the paper, do a quick recheck and then close it. It’s done, it’s over, you don’t need to fret over it now. Put your head down and take a nap if you can.

To read more blogs as such, please click here.

More and more students are finding themselves migrating from their home countries to So, you’re applying to universities. One day, you get an email from one of the universities asking you to come in for an interview. What do you do in this university and how do you prepare to ensure that you impress the interviewer enough for them to consider you as a potential student at their university?

First, we need to dive into what you can do pre-interview to make sure you do the best you can in your actual interview. You want to research and look for all that you can find about the university. Research the program that you’ve applied to. This is to ensure that you’ll be able to answer any questions they ask you about the program, the university, and why you want to study that program in their university.

Another thing you could do is rehearse sample interview questions. A simple Google search should allow you to find many sample questions that interviewers could ask you, and on YouTube, you’ll be able to find mock interviews. Some questions that universities can ask you could be:

• Tell me about yourself
• What do you expect to be doing in 10 years from now?
• What are your strengths and weaknesses?
• Why are you interested in our university?
• Why do you want to major in _______?
• How could you contribute to our college community?
• What are your academic strengths?
• What subject in high school did you find most challenging?

For the actual interview itself, you want to dress your best. First impressions are very important, so you want to leave behind a good impact. If you’re confused about how to dress, just go for a business casual attire. Make sure you’re on time for the interview. Don’t be late or too early.

During the interview, try to be yourself, but the best version of yourself. Be open and be confident and highlight that in your body language; hold eye contact and ensure your posture is well. Try not to hesitate when answering questions but also don’t ramble on. Give enough details but not too many that you forget what the actual question itself was.

To really leave an impression, ask them questions that cannot be answered on their website. Show that you are interested in their program at their university and that you wouldn’t miss the chance to study there.

After the interview ends and you get home, be sure to send a thank you email to the interviewer for taking out time from their day to meet you and how much you enjoyed talking to them. It’s the little things that people remember, so be sure to leave a lasting impact!

To read more blogs as such, please click here.

Time is infinite, and yet it passes by so fast, seems to move by faster than anything else we could’ve imagined. It’s difficult to break down each and every moment and understand how and what we spent our time doing. You enter high school, and the next thing you know, you’re already walking across the stage, holding your diploma in hand.

High school is an experience. You learn, not just academics, but life skills and more that help you out later. You learn failure, success, highs and lows. You make friends and then lose some. You grow, make mistakes and learn. The time you spend in high school is crucial to how the rest of your future would go. How can you ensure that you come out of high school, with the most knowledge and experience, with the best achievements to ensure that you won’t run into possible issues later?

It could be said that time is an investment, and as with any investment, understanding each and every aspect of how, what, where we put in our time is important to ensure that we’re utilizing the full potential of our days. How can we invest our time so that future-us doesn’t look back and regret what we’ve done?

The most important thing in high-school that you should invest your time in is an obvious one. Your education and academics. It’s a no-brainer why this should be the most essential. High-school sets the base for what you learn in the future. Learning the basics pushes you to the advanced. Furthermore, the grades or GPA that you get in high-school is very important for the universities you can get into. If you want to study in one of the more advanced, high-achieving schools (like Ivy League, Oxbridge, etc.), you’d need the best possible grades you can achieve.

Invest time into different extracurriculars. Join some sort of club, take part in competitions, become a part of the student council, play a sport. Extracurriculars help a lot with growth, and hope you can mature as a person. You can learn how to be more confident and outspoken, and learn more about yourself, your likes and dislikes. You can also learn how to network, make friends, and learn new talents and hobbies.

Invest time into your family and friends. High-school is stressful, but you can’t forget to take some time out of your day to take care of those relationships, because it’s those people who will stand by you when you’re at your worst. Remember birthdays, go on outings, visit them often, and so and so are enough to make someone feel special and be happy with your being.

Invest time into growing. This is the time for you to learn how to navigate different situations, what to do or say at crucial times, and how to react to different scenarios. It’s now that you learn how to organize yourself and your days, how to balance everything, how to be put together and live a healthy lifestyle. Invest time into understanding what you can do to maintain healthy mental health, what you can do to ensure you’re in a good state of mind most of the time.

Invest your time in making memories and living out the student life. High-school years make up some of your best memories. Live in the moment. Enjoy every second. Make it all count at the end.

To read more blogs as such, please click here.

Secondary schooling plays an integral role in a student’s growth. We make a lot of decisions in this time that prove to be the stepping stones for our futures, which is what makes this time even more crucial. Some important decisions we make at this time could be: what career do we want to pursue, what university do we go to, what degree do we apply to, what subjects do we need to apply for this degree, etc. We have to be very critical when we pick or drop subjects so that we can spend time learning a bit about the industry and field we think is meant for us. This particular thought can be quite confusing, so we’ve compiled a list for you to assess what subjects are mandatory or optional for the certain careers you want:

Law

If you’ve watched too many episodes of “Law and Order” or “Suits”, or maybe even “How to Get Away With Murder”, then you’ve probably dreamt of yourself in court, arguing about and so on, and now want to become a lawyer. The subjects that you take on in AL will heavily influence your decision. If you do truly want to progress to a career in law, then these are the subjects you should consider:

Useful Subjects

• Law
• English
• Government and Politics

Optional Subjects:

• History
• Mathematics
• Sociology
• Psychology
• Global Perspectives & Research

Business/Marketing/Accounting

We all want to be billionaires, and be able to spend money without a second thought, and some people choose to pursue a degree in business, marketing or accounting to fulfill their dreams. Although Business, Marketing and Accounting are differing degrees, they usually have the same requirements for AL subjects.

Useful Subjects

• Business Studies
• Economics
• Mathematics

Optional Subjects:

• English
• Government and Politics
• Psychology
• Design & Technology
• Digital Media & Design
• Media Studies 

Economics

Economics is among one of the fields that run a country and the world. There are many aspects to this field and the AL subjects you take are very important.

Useful Subjects

• Mathematics
• Economics
• Further Math
• Statistics

Optional Subjects:

• English
• Government and Politics

Biology

If you decide to pursue a degree in Biology, wanting to be like one of those cool Molecular scientists or Genetic Engineers that you study about, here are some subjects you should take on for AL:

Useful Subjects:

• Biology
• Chemistry

Optional Subjects:

• Physics
• Mathematics
• Global Perspectives & Research

Physics

If you’ve watched “Big Bang Theory” and want to become a theoretical physicist like Sheldon, then a degree in Physics or Physics-related fields would be the way to go. Here are the AL subjects you should take on for this:

Useful Subjects:

• Physics
• Mathematics

Optional Subjects:

• Chemistry
• English
• Further Math
• Philosophy

Computer Sciences/IT

In the 21^st century, technology has become an integral part of our daily lives. We’ve incorporated some form of technology or some sort of computer (micro or macro) into our daily routine. If you want to be a part of the progress that makes the world in “Black Mirror” seem closer than ever, here are the subjects you should study in AL:

Useful Subjects:

• Computer Sciences
• ICT
• Mathematics

Optional Subjects:

• English
• Philosophy
• Physics
• Further Math
• Design and Technology 

Engineering

More than ever before, innovation is valued for the impact it’s had on the world. For someone who thinks they have the capability to make advancements in creativity and practical solutions, engineering is the perfect option for a career. There’s many types of Engineering (you can read our blog about it here), however they all have the same basic requirements for AL.

Useful Subjects:

• Physics
• Mathematics
• Chemistry

Optional Subjects:

• English
• Design and Technology
• ICT
• Computer Sciences

Pharmacology

If you’re someone who’s interested in drugs (studying them!) and the effects they have on the human body, then pharmacology is definitely your calling! However, to study pharmacology, you need to study some of the basics. These are some AL subjects that would help you out:

Useful Subjects:

• Chemistry
• Biology

Optional Subjects:

• Physics
• Mathematics
• Sociology

Psychology

Some people are born with the natural ability to read people, and figure out what they’re thinking or what their “story” is. If you’re someone who can do that, or someone who wants to be able to study to do that, then psychology is your best way to go. To start your experience in this field a bit early on, here are some subjects you can take on:

Useful Subjects:

• Psychology
• Biology

Optional Subjects:

• Sociology
• Philosophy
• Mathematics

To read more blogs as such, click here.

The SAT is arguably one of the most important tests that students need to clear in order to apply for college and universities. The SAT is a college entrance exam that institutes use to evaluate the academics and integrity of students who have sent in applications. It’s very fundamental in admission decisions. The SAT itself is a multiple-choice, pencil-and-paper test that was created and is held by the College Board. But what comes in the SAT, where can we take it, and what should we know before we go to give the test?

The SAT is a 3-hour long test that consists of 2 sections. The SAT tests students on their math skills, and reading and language aptitude. The SAT also used to offer an Essay portion to test your writing skills, however this portion is now discontinued by the College Board.

The 2 sections of the SAT are scored on a 200 to 800-point scale. Your total SAT score is the sum of your section scores. The maximum score you can get on your SAT (the perfect score) is 1600. The lowest score is 400. The average SAT score is 1050, so usually scores above that are considered a “good score”.

Now moving on to the content of the SAT’s, as we’ve mentioned before, it consists of 2 sections. The Math Section and the Reading/Writing and Language Section. These sections can be further broken down, so here’s how it goes:

Math:

This part of the test tests your ability to apply math in different situations. This section is 80 minutes long and contains 58 questions. There’s two different parts of the Math component: Math with Calculator (with 38 questions in 55 minutes) and Math without Calculator (with 20 questions in 25 minutes). There’s three core areas within this component:

• “Heart of Algebra” (this consists of linear equations with rational coefficients, system of linear equations (with no solution, finite or infinite solutions), linear inequalities in two variables and their systems, graphical representation of linear function);
• “Problem-solving and Data Analysis” (this includes percentages; ratio and proportion; unit conversion; equation of line or curve using a scatter plot; two-way tables to calculate conditional frequencies and conditional probabilities; association of variables or independence of events; estimation of a population parameter; calculation of mean, median, mode, range and standard deviation in statistics; evaluation of reports to check appropriateness of data collection methods);
• “Passport to Advanced Math” (this consists of quadratic equations with rational coefficients; determination of the most suitable form of an expression; addition, subtraction, multiplication and division of polynomial equations; zeros and factors of polynomials, non-linear relationship between two variables, function notation, isolation of a variable by rearrangement of formula or equation)

Reading:

This portion is 52 questions and 65 minutes long. There are 5 passages that you need to read and understand. These passages can be drawn from literary, historical, and scientific documents.

You earn points for each correct answer; there is no penalty for incorrect or blank answers.

The SAT is offered multiple times a year: in March, May, June, August, October, November, and December. Usually, you’d get your scores about two weeks after taking the test, however June and August scores may still take up to six weeks to process.

The best way to prepare is to attempt practice tests and study sample questions. The College Board offers testing tips and free practice tests on khanacademy.org. Other free or inexpensive study resources are available online, as well as books by The Princeton Review or Barron’s.

To read more articles as such, please click here.

When applying for universities, the most asked about document would be your Personal Statement. A very intimidating task to take on, but writing your personal essay is considerably one of the more important steps of applying to university.

So, what is a personal statement? It’s an essay required by many application systems and universities in which they want you to talk about who you are, why you’re applying for your programs, etc. This essay should include your strengths, qualities and skills that you’ve cultivated over your life and how they’ve prepared you for attending college.

The essay should highlight why you’re an ideal candidate for their program. You should mention why you’re interested in the course you’ve applied for. Talk about your enthusiasm and passion for the course you’re applying for. Try to write the essay in a story-telling manner so it’s interesting to read. If you have a certain background, identity, talent or interest that you think you should mention because it helps to explain why you want to apply or why you want to study in a specific program, then share your story.

Think about your audience, who’s reading the essay. How can you make them enjoy your essay, what could you say to capture their interest from the get-go? How will you make it that much more fascinating? 

Another thing you could do in your essay is talk about a defining moment in your life; an obstacle you faced that was important to your success later. Talk about a problem or an issue you’ve resolved or you want to resolve and why it’s important to you personally. Talk about an accomplishment that led to a period of personal growth and development and what you learned or understood from that experience.

Try to avoid cliché sentences, and obvious opening sentences so that your essay can stand out from the first line. Try reading sample essayto understand what and how to write a statement piece.  You need to make your personal statement unique so that it stands out from among the many essays that have been sent in.

If you’re confused on how to start your writing process, here’s a simple step-by-step for you:

1. Read sample personal essays
2. Brainstorm: defining moments, inspirations, strengths, weaknesses
3. Draft your first essay
4. Edit
5. Ask someone to proofread
6. Edit again
7. Finalize and send it in

If you need help with your personal statements or with any part of your application process, feel free to reach out to us via our social media, where our staff will ensure that your case is handled with the best care possible and ensure that your confusions and questions are all extensively solved.

To read more blogs like this, please click here. 

Each year as new admissions of that year make their way into their universities, future applicants start building up anticipation and anxiety for their turns to apply. There are so many study opportunities all across the world, but each country and university have different application dates. Some of these universities have common application systems, but some are individual. Which brings us onto a question that most students cannot answer: when do we start applying? 

The admission application process is a long one, so students should start researching, gathering information and compiling all available documents and give the necessary exams, such as SAT or IELTS, after the end of their second last year in high-school.

Most universities offer different options for the applications, known as admission plans. Each admission plan has its own deadlines, requirements and restrictions. These admission plans usually include: early decision, early action, regular decision and rolling admissions.

For early action or early admissions, most schools require you to submit your applications by mid-November of your senior year, and the universities usually respond back by mid-December. For regular decisions, the deadlines are usually set for early January or February.

Schools usually make a decision about applications within 4 – 6 months of the application deadline, although this can vary from one university or college to another.

The bottom line is, the earlier you apply, the better. Most of the time, it doesn’t really have an advantage to apply early, but for some universities, they do take it into account.

To get your acceptance on time, book a consultation with us today to figure out what your plan should be!

To read more blogs like this, please click here!

After spending the past 2 years of your life spending day and night studying to get the best grades that you possibly could, it’s understandable that one would want to take a gap year and focus on themselves for a while. Here’s everything you should think about before deciding to take a gap year.

What to expect:

There are many reasons why students decide to take a gap year. It could be anything from wanting to take a break from studying, to figuring out what you want to do in life, improving your student profile, gaining work experience or improving yourself. However, you need to be prepared for what the gap year will hold for you.

Societal expectations are that a person keeps moving and doing, without a break. Once you try to break from the norm, you might have to hear some snarky comments from condescending relatives, family friends, or even strangers. You need to be prepared for the comments people might pass along, and the questions that will follow.

There may also come a point where you’re tired of being at home or having nothing to do. Sometimes, you might even think you’re going slightly insane. There may also be feelings of fear of missing out, as all your friends and classmates move along with their lives and are busy all the time.

Gap Year Do’s and Don’ts: How to make the most out of your gap year

You need to ensure that you utilize the full potential of this time and opportunity, and that you don’t waste any moment of it. Having a year off seems like loads of fun, and it can be, but you could also use this time to prepare for the future.

A gap year provides you with enough time to reflect. You can use this time to gain a better sense of sense and to broaden your view of the world. You can increase your self-awareness and boost your self-confidence, maturity and independence. You could also use this time to figure out what you want to do in the career, think about your career interests and what degree program you want to major in. You could also take this time to set up a good outline for yourself and control how you manage your day-to-day.

Gap years are the perfect opportunity to refocus after school and do all the things you couldn’t do while studying because you didn’t have the energy, time or motivation. Now’s the chance to learn a new language, experience a new culture, develop new life skills, discover a hidden passion, take up a new hobby, travel the world and so on.

You could also take up a job in order to boost your resume by gaining work experience and key skills, and earn some money. This would also help you develop useful contacts and to challenge yourself.

However, taking a gap year could also be a failed plan if it’s not thought out or planned properly. You could potentially waste a lot of time if you have no idea what you want to achieve coming out of this break. Make sure that you have well thought out all of what you wish to accomplish in this period.

Some students also find this break too distracting and at the end, don’t want to return to their education. You have to be very straightforward and continuously motivated about your goals throughout and be passionate enough that you do not deter off the track that you’ve laid out for your future. 

To read more blogs like this, please click here.

It’s a well-known fact that once a graduate enters the working force, the one common requirement by all industries is proof of some sort of work experience. To help with this dilemma, universities have started offering degrees that offer work opportunities and experience during the course of your study program. There are many types of structured work experiences, such as co-op placements, internships and so on.

Universities and colleges usually have affiliated firms where co-op students and interns can enroll to study and participate in a job position which is relevant to their field of study.

Co-operative education combines your study program with an official paid work term. Co-op aims to mimic a career in your field, and to introduce you to tasks that you would be doing if you continue in this career.

Co-op programs have many benefits that you could consider before applying:

–   You get work experience in your field

–   You get paid for your work as a co-op student

–   You can network and make valuable connections

–   You can take a break from your studies

–   You get interviewing and resume-building skills

–   You can understand what a workplace culture is like

–   You can increase your awareness of global challenges and industry issues

However, a co-op program isn’t for everyone. Here are some cons that you should think about before applying:

–   A co-op program can cause your degree to take longer to complete.

–   You need more organization to plan your degree because some courses are only offered at certain times.

–   The workload can be hectic.

–   A co-op program can cost more than without.

–   There is no guarantee of a co-op position (as in there’s no guarantee you’ll get to work).

Internships are supervised full or part-time work experience opportunities related to a student’s area of study. This could be paid or unpaid. The advantages and disadvantages are the same as those of co-op programs. Where co-op programs are multi-work term agreements, internships are only one-term work assignments, usually in the summers,

Some countries that are well-known for programs that offer such work oppurtunities:

·   Australia

Many students in Australia take part in internships. For some courses, it’s even compulsory, and students get academic credit for their work. Usually, however, these internships are unpaid.

·   Canada

Universities in Canada offers programs for co-op, internships and/or work-integrated learning. International students are required to apply for a co-op or intern work permit if they want to participate in these programs.

·   United Kingdom

Institutes in the United Kingdom offer for students: internships and work placements for work experience opportunities.

Internships vary in how long they can be, and students don’t receive academic credit. Students are paid at least the National Minimum Wage.

·   United States

International students in the US have some options for work experience while studying: CPT (Curricular Practical Training) and OPT (Optional Practical Training). Students are required to complete their first year before they can be considered for these programs.

CPT is off-campus training outlined in a degree outline. OPT is off-campus internships or employment within their field of study. However, for OPT, students are required to apply for an additional visa.

To read more blogs like this, please click here.