Pre Departure To-Do List For Students Going Abroad For Higher Studies

Have you received an offer letter from your dream college? Voila! The most strenuous part of the university admissions process is now over. The next step will definitely be preparing yourself for the trip, and for that, it is essential to have an in-hand pre-departure to-do list in hand. Here are some tips for you to get a good checklist before leaving for your dream college. These tips are definitely going to come to your aid, as you are in an entirely different country and will be alone to do your important chores. Stress will be sky high, so let’s dial that down using these pointers:

  • Checklist, IMPORTANT:

Having a to-do checklist is an extreme necessity and a better guide for getting you organized for the better without the help of a third party. The last minute hassles can be avoided through having a credible checklist. You can have a normal pen-and-paper checklist, but if you are extremely clumsy, you'd better switch it over to your mobile notepad for better and easy access and never be bothered about losing the paper. Once you have lined up your things before packing them up, you can strike them off one by one and be sure you have crossed everything off the list. 

  • Traveling Arrangements

Booking your flight tickets in advance is an excellent way to save money on ticket prices. Checking prices incognito on various websites can help you find the best ticket prices. It can also be good to know well-in advance about the people who are traveling with you from your place, and getting in touch with them can help you avoid having to board flights alone.

  • Passport and Visa

Once you get your admissions or offer letter from your university , the next step is to book and block your visa dates. It will be better to begin the process early so that you can be at peace and can avoid the hurdles of getting it at the last minute. Read and understand the procedure and instructions carefully before you book your dates. It is going to be a long journey, and it will be scheduled step by step, so it will be best to get all your documents and start the process as early as possible.

The validity of your passport is indeed a crucial element that can make or break your journey. It would be proper to get that checked first, and if it is close to expiry, then you should clear that off first before getting your hands on anything else. It would be valid for more than six months before your scheduled date of travel. And checking it will help you take a rain check on last-minute inconveniences.

  • Documents Checklist

Copies of your academic transcripts, identification cards, travel insurance, admission letters, and any other important documents from your university abroad must be kept with you at all times, along with the originals. Keeping some of the copies at home will also be a good idea if there’s an emergency. 

  • Currency

Digital currency is quite common, and you might be thinking, "Why learn about their currency when you can just swipe?" There are different transaction charges that account for the use of international debit and credit cards. It is also necessary to understand the conversion rates of foreign currencies to Indian rupees. It is also important to have some liquid cash on hand in case of a dire situation. 

  • Weather

Most of the countries abroad have very different climate conditions than those of India. Understanding the climate of the country can help you decide on the kind of wardrobe you have to carry along with you. India has a tropical climate, which has a better balance of weather. Countries abroad have extreme weather conditions. It is necessary to pack clothes depending on the month of your intake. They have harsh winters, so it is advisable to have good sweaters and warm clothes with you.

  • Accommodation

Before making your checklist, it will be helpful to know the place you are going to stay for the rest of the coming months when you are at your university. If you have university-provided housing, then half your headache is sorted. But if you have to take up accommodation outside, then you will need to figure out the neighborhoods and see what is close by. 

  • Local knowledge of the country

Local cuisine and other universal food joints in your area must be identified early on so that you do not panic when you are hungry. Other factors like laws, culture, local customs, and the like are some of the things you have to consider before going abroad.

  • Health Insurance

Health insurance is a prime prerequisite. Some countries even require you to have health insurance before you can apply for a visa. And some countries expect you to have health insurance on the basis of the local laws of the place you're opting to go. In either case, having health insurance will help you greatly while you are in an unknown country. 

  • Packing List

Never be afraid to stockpile medicines in your luggage. There might be different rules and restrictions concerning pharmaceuticals in the place you are going. Medicines can be expensive in a foreign country, and since you are not earning any money, this can be a significant out-of-pocket expense. Before you board your flight, make sure to bring all of your primary go-to medications. Let’s check which of them fall into the immediate category:

  • Cold, Fever – Crocin
  • Body Pain – Crocin
  • Indigestion, Gastric Problems – Gelusil, Zantac
  • Throat Infection – Erythromycin
  • Allergies – Avil .25
  • Vomiting – Avomine
  • Tooth-Ache – Combiflam
  • Cold, Headache – Amrutanjan, Crocin, Vicks
  • Stomach Pain – Cyclopam, Metrogyl 400, Norflox Tz
  • Sprain – Esgypyrin, Relispray, Moov

This might again come as a surprise to be added to the packing list, but having a set of handy utensils for preparing food at home is an extremely essential one. You might not be able to find Indian stores right away, so it will be appropriate to have a good set of cookware with you when you start your life abroad. And, it can be costly to eat out every day, so having something of your own will help you walk past such hurdles easily. 

These are some of the major points to keep an eye on when preparing a pre-departure list. There might be more, depending on your course and the country you have chosen to go to. Irrespective of that, make sure you prepare yourself for your dream journey.

Have you received an offer letter from your dream college? Voila! The most strenuous part of the university admissions process is now over. The next step will definitely be preparing yourself for the trip, and for that, it is essential to have an in-hand pre-departure to-do list in hand. Here are some tips for you to get a good checklist before leaving for your dream college. These tips are definitely going to come to your aid, as you are in an entirely different country and will be alone to do your important chores. Stress will be sky high, so let’s dial that down using these pointers:

  • Checklist, IMPORTANT:

Having a to-do checklist is an extreme necessity and a better guide for getting you organized for the better without the help of a third party. The last minute hassles can be avoided through having a credible checklist. You can have a normal pen-and-paper checklist, but if you are extremely clumsy, you'd better switch it over to your mobile notepad for better and easy access and never be bothered about losing the paper. Once you have lined up your things before packing them up, you can strike them off one by one and be sure you have crossed everything off the list. 

  • Traveling Arrangements

Booking your flight tickets in advance is an excellent way to save money on ticket prices. Checking prices incognito on various websites can help you find the best ticket prices. It can also be good to know well-in advance about the people who are traveling with you from your place, and getting in touch with them can help you avoid having to board flights alone.

  • Passport and Visa

Once you get your admissions or offer letter from your university , the next step is to book and block your visa dates. It will be better to begin the process early so that you can be at peace and can avoid the hurdles of getting it at the last minute. Read and understand the procedure and instructions carefully before you book your dates. It is going to be a long journey, and it will be scheduled step by step, so it will be best to get all your documents and start the process as early as possible.

The validity of your passport is indeed a crucial element that can make or break your journey. It would be proper to get that checked first, and if it is close to expiry, then you should clear that off first before getting your hands on anything else. It would be valid for more than six months before your scheduled date of travel. And checking it will help you take a rain check on last-minute inconveniences.

  • Documents Checklist

Copies of your academic transcripts, identification cards, travel insurance, admission letters, and any other important documents from your university abroad must be kept with you at all times, along with the originals. Keeping some of the copies at home will also be a good idea if there’s an emergency. 

  • Currency

Digital currency is quite common, and you might be thinking, "Why learn about their currency when you can just swipe?" There are different transaction charges that account for the use of international debit and credit cards. It is also necessary to understand the conversion rates of foreign currencies to Indian rupees. It is also important to have some liquid cash on hand in case of a dire situation. 

  • Weather

Most of the countries abroad have very different climate conditions than those of India. Understanding the climate of the country can help you decide on the kind of wardrobe you have to carry along with you. India has a tropical climate, which has a better balance of weather. Countries abroad have extreme weather conditions. It is necessary to pack clothes depending on the month of your intake. They have harsh winters, so it is advisable to have good sweaters and warm clothes with you.

  • Accommodation

Before making your checklist, it will be helpful to know the place you are going to stay for the rest of the coming months when you are at your university. If you have university-provided housing, then half your headache is sorted. But if you have to take up accommodation outside, then you will need to figure out the neighborhoods and see what is close by. 

  • Local knowledge of the country

Local cuisine and other universal food joints in your area must be identified early on so that you do not panic when you are hungry. Other factors like laws, culture, local customs, and the like are some of the things you have to consider before going abroad.

  • Health Insurance

Health insurance is a prime prerequisite. Some countries even require you to have health insurance before you can apply for a visa. And some countries expect you to have health insurance on the basis of the local laws of the place you're opting to go. In either case, having health insurance will help you greatly while you are in an unknown country. 

  • Packing List

Never be afraid to stockpile medicines in your luggage. There might be different rules and restrictions concerning pharmaceuticals in the place you are going. Medicines can be expensive in a foreign country, and since you are not earning any money, this can be a significant out-of-pocket expense. Before you board your flight, make sure to bring all of your primary go-to medications. Let’s check which of them fall into the immediate category:

  • Cold, Fever – Crocin
  • Body Pain – Crocin
  • Indigestion, Gastric Problems – Gelusil, Zantac
  • Throat Infection – Erythromycin
  • Allergies – Avil .25
  • Vomiting – Avomine
  • Tooth-Ache – Combiflam
  • Cold, Headache – Amrutanjan, Crocin, Vicks
  • Stomach Pain – Cyclopam, Metrogyl 400, Norflox Tz
  • Sprain – Esgypyrin, Relispray, Moov

This might again come as a surprise to be added to the packing list, but having a set of handy utensils for preparing food at home is an extremely essential one. You might not be able to find Indian stores right away, so it will be appropriate to have a good set of cookware with you when you start your life abroad. And, it can be costly to eat out every day, so having something of your own will help you walk past such hurdles easily. 

These are some of the major points to keep an eye on when preparing a pre-departure list. There might be more, depending on your course and the country you have chosen to go to. Irrespective of that, make sure you prepare yourself for your dream journey.