Education Agencies: Are They Worth It?

Many parent's worries are the admin and all the different processes that need to be taken when they apply at a UK school. This is where the Agencies come in, especially for overseas students. They help with almost everything vaguely related to education.

How they help:

• Submitting application forms to schools
• Giving guidance to students and parents
• Language barrier may happen so, agencies can translate
• conducting interviews (especially to competitive schools)
• Has direct relationship with schools
• Arranging visits to schools
• Visas
• Entrance exams can be sometimes be taken at the agency

They make money through commissions and fees. In my opinion agencies are very useful to those who may not speak English or have no idea about the whole system. (Of course, I provide some information but I can't do the job for you!). There will most likely be an agency in your country that specialise in sending students to the UK. However if you come from a country where not many students go to the UK, you may have to do all the hard work your self! An example is Academic Asia (Hong Kong/China).

Overall agencies save time and effort but be careful that you are not overly dependent to the Agencies and make the full use of them if you feel you have to use their services. Please remember you can e-mail me about anything! (though I can't do things that Agencies can do!)