"And she told me it would make me look great!"

"Well, she knows a lot more about hair than I do."

Advice offered only has value if you have confidence, belief and trust in the person offering it. If you are going to study overseas then you will probably talk to an education counsellor at some point. Since this person is going to have some considerable influence on your future, it is worth considering how much you have confidence in the advice given.

I could give you a list of things to look for, but let's go back to the hairdresser. Well, the salon seems to be pretty smart, in a well-known location, with some cool-looking staff and a very stylish ambience (I like that word). My hairdresser is not too young and seems confident, and over on the wall near the reception desk there are certificates, in frames too! Still, do I want pink hair?

Education counselling requires a lot of experience (and hours and hours of reading, even study). A good counsellor will be able to offer you choices and explain the differences between them. This course suits people who..., and this one is more appropriate for...

She, or he (which is rare - I have no idea why, perhaps men are less sympathetic) would likely have been to the country of your choice and visited a number of education institutions. They would have spoken to a good many students before and have had a sympathy for what you are interested in and how best to guide you to achieve your goals.

The counsellor, or the person within the education consultancy that you are visiting, will reflect some of the views of that office. So it is important to ask some questions about the office. If you have no confidence in the consultancy then you are not likely to have confidence in the counsellor. Do, however, remember that you are the client and have every right to ask questions. The answer to success in life is about asking the right questions. And listen carefully to the answers.

So, this is the way to avoid ending up with pink hair. "Maybe blue would suit me better, what do you think?"

John Kelly

Director

Mentor International

www.mentor.ac