Common Mistakes Students Make When Choosing an Educational Consultant / Agent in Nigeria
According to research by International Consultants for Education and Fairs (ICEF) based in Bonn, Germany; Nigeria remains one of the World’s foremost student sending markets.
Getting to travel abroad, study, and stay back after your studies is a tradition and culture that is not totally alien to a lot of Nigerians as we currently know. However, a lot of students and parents are not accustomed to applying to the school directly due to lots of documentation and requirements.
Educational consultants become the final resort for many of these people and in some cases, they make some common mistakes when trying to choose an agent to help them through the process. Check out the few errors you should avoid when making that choice:
Do Not Fall for Sales Gimmicks
Pushy sales tactics or gimmicks are often used by some educational agencies without using actual proof of their personal successes. Examples may be:
- Getting Discounts upon Signups
- Constant Price Cuts to Travel & Associated Fees which are not true in accordance with the various regulatory bodies (Health Insurance Fees, Visa Fees, Air Fares, etc.)
- Highly Scripted Sales Pitch with Sales Kit
- Highly Scripted Testimonials and Photos
We are very passionate about providing assistance to our students and as such we are one of the only educational agencies that offer FREE application services to schools in the UK and one of the lowest fees for schools in Canada, the USA, and more.
Do Not Believe in Success Rates Claimed by The Agency
Some educational consultants may boast of having about a 100% success rate! Firstly, it is quite difficult to prove and unlike some regulated industries, bold marketing claims can simply be conjured out of thin air.
Due to how different applicant scenarios can be, there will always be differences and variations amongst them in terms of age, course applying for, relevant work experience, education, and the like. The schools and embassy will always evaluate each candidate holistically. All your merits and shortcomings are assessed to see if you can be given admission as well as your visa granted. Thus “a 100% success rate” is a fallacy.
False Impression of Bigger Companies = Better
A bigger company may not result in better. The reason for this is those very large companies may not allow you to have the very personalized attention you are looking for. You might have to be dealing with waiting your turn with lots of other clients because of their mass-market approach.
We at TGM Education choose our clients carefully; if we believe you stand a low chance of succeeding at your intended school, course, and country; We will advise you on your best possible options on a case-by-case basis. If you do not heed, we will not take your case because we do not wish you to waste your funds, and end up getting refused. 100% Transparency is what we believe in.
In conclusion, when searching for good educational consultants/agencies, pay attention to these details and be aware that experience goes a long way in ensuring you succeed in your study abroad dreams.
TGM Education is a leading International Education Agency in Nigeria with over 25years of professional student placement and visa counseling service experience representing and placing students into A-Level, Foundation, Undergraduate, Postgraduate, and Ph.D. degree programs at top and world-ranked institutions around the world mainly in the United Kingdom, United States of America, Canada, Ireland, Singapore, Malaysia, and the United Arab Emirates.
Contact us at TGM Education and begin your school application at no cost!