As soon as in Russia there was such a phenomenon as trips to study abroad (and it happened at the turn of the 90s of the last century), immediately the first consultants arose. But it is necessary to distinguish between a trip to study in USA and a tourist visit. It is professional consultants who do not mix education with tourism or anything else; there are not so many in Russia. After all, education ABROAD is not tourism. It cannot be put on stream. The educational agency works with each client individually. The fact that in tourism is called VIP-service, in education – VIP service for all.

What is a professional educational consultant? The first and foremost difference is already mentioned: the consultant offers only international educational programs – language courses, secondary schools, university preparation, higher and postgraduate education, professional courses, internships, and seminars. Second – the consultant advises only what he saw himself. Third, he individually and differentially approaches each client, evaluating what is needed for him.

And the fourth – study abroad education consultant “accompanies” the client to the end, while that requires assistance (and this can be – in the case of long-term study – and a year, two, and five, and more). The work of any consultant consists of such aspects as information processing of the request and assistance in making the right decision, including its practical implementation.

Now more and more independent people who have already traveled abroad can use the Internet, can register a hotel and buy an air ticket. Many of them have a reasonable question: “Why do I need an educational agency to organize a trip to study abroad? I’d better contact the school on my own – it will be faster and cheaper. “

In fact, neither faster nor cheaper does not come out. The Internet if and will replace the adviser, only in that part as information supply. But there is a lot of information on the Internet, and there are no criteria of choice. In this respect, the work of an educational consultant abroad is akin to the work of a practicing lawyer: The Civil Code, the code of laws and legislative acts is accessible to anyone, but it is tough to make good use of existing information without the help of a specialist.

How to choose an educational institution?

To understand the mass of information, to choose the right educational institution and program, to prepare all the documents, to receive confirmation of admission, to check out and leave, an average person will have to spend a significant amount of time, energy and money. And do not forget that the entire enrollment process will be in a foreign language.

If you know when it is best to start preparing for admission to foreign educational institutions, if you know everything about the needs, for example, of a higher education institution, if you know its advantages over other universities in other countries? If you are familiar with the real visa policy of the embassies, the procedure for preparing and submitting documents, and are sure that you will not need support during your stay abroad or professional advice on continuing education abroad – in this case, you can organize your trip yourself.

If everything can be done right and on time – honor to you and praise. But practice shows that few take it: even in a computerized and information-intensive America, only 5% of those leaving for study in UK select a program and register for it independently.