Having just applied to university, there is one thing that I think I have learned from the entire process: Guyana needs more people giving educated guidance to young people attempting to kick-start their tertiary education.
Application to university is a nebulous, complex process, especially so if one is applying to schools abroad. Whilst it is wonderful that we have the option of studying at the University of Guyana, students should be aware that it is not their ONLY option. There are many brilliant Guyanese students who have the ability to get into highly ranked universities, but do not apply. There are many reasons this might happen, but, personally, these are the few that I find: firstly, students are concerned about the source of funding. They believe that going to university abroad is simply too expensive, and since there is no one to guide them, they do very little research, and opt for the more convenient option of attending the University of Guyana.
University is not cheap, there is no denying this; however, there are many ways in which one can acquire scholarships to offset the cost. Yet, like I said, many people do very little research. If there were guidance counsellors cognizant of a student’s academic ability, extra-curricular activities, transcripts, financial status, intended major, those counsellors would be in the position to advise students of what schools would be most likely to accept them; what steps they should take; and what financial options are available.
There are tonnes of schools that provide financial aid to international students, (provided the student is outstanding enough).
Secondly, I think there are a lot of students who have the idea of what they want to accomplish, but are unclear as to what steps they need to take to get there. These are the people who always say they want to study in the United States, but then miss the deadline for signing up for the SATs. Because there is no system in place for students who wish to pursue this option, it is easy for them to get lost in an abstract idea. There is no one who reminds you to sign up for your exams, no one who advises you on what exams are best for you to take, and no one who advises you on which dates are best to sit the exams. Whilst you might say if that is the goal of a student, the onus is upon them to make sure they take the requisite steps to see fruition of the goal, you can’t argue that the path to the University of Guyana isn’t much smoother. Our schools prepare us to write the Caribbean Examinations Council Exams (CSEC and CAPE), even though most schools in the United States do not recognize these examinations. I am not saying that the Guyanese curriculum should change to accommodate students who wish to pursue tertiary education abroad, but I am saying that students should be made aware of all of the possible options. They should know what they can use their examination results for, and shouldn’t write an exam just because everyone else is doing so. If their intention were to study in the US, they’d be better off studying for General and Subject SATs. If their intention were to study in the Caribbean or the UK, then they’d be better off doing CSEC and CAPE/A levels.
My point is that our students should be thoroughly educated, so that they can make educated decisions. This is in no way intended to bash the people who attend the University of Guyana; it is simply to say that our students could be attending schools which are much more established, have better resources, and could provide them with unique opportunities, such as internships in partnered companies, or research positions in labs. These experiences can add to a person’s education immensely, and could help them understand their chosen career much better.
Other reasons a person might opt to study abroad might be simply because the University does not offer their specific program. In my case, I am hoping to study either Biophysics or Biological Engineering. Is it fair that I should choose another major simply because those are not available at UG? Should I compromise on my dreams, or should students like myself be provided with information as to how we can still achieve our dreams? Whilst I think the latter is true, in the mean time, we have to do the work ourselves. We have to be relentless in the pursuit of our own education.
My advice to anyone thinking about studying abroad is: ask people who have done it. If possible, get someone who can guide you through the process; and finally, spend loads of time researching. Learn as much as you can about the process, the perquisites, and about financial aid and scholarships. It is still your education, after all.
