Elsewhere?
Study abroad consultancy: who we are, how we work and what we believe in.
8 steps in the process
Berkay Yılmaz
I have been doing study abroad consulting since 2022; I guide students and families toward schools in more than 20 countries.
In these years I often noticed one thing: studying abroad is often treated like a transaction that ends with an acceptance letter. But an acceptance letter is not an end, it is a beginning.
Every student who sets out is a spark. They grow with what they learn where they go, the people they meet and the life they build. One day that spark becomes a strong flame. I founded Elsewhere Academics to carry this spark to the right place.
Elsewhere means "another place". Every student has another place of their own, and our job is to find that place. We choose the right school, the right city and the right time together. We stay by the student's side after they arrive too. Before setting out, every student of ours receives a letter from their consultant; that day is the day the spark sets out.
How do we work?
Eight steps, from the first meeting to the first week after the student arrives.
First meeting
We listen first. We do not talk about schools before we understand the student's interests, goals and the family's expectations.
Roadmap
After setting the goal, we draw the path to it. We share country, field of study and school options with you, together with why we suggest each one.
Budget plan
We put the paths that lead to the same goal with different budgets side by side. We make clear from the start which payment is due when.
Exams and documents
We build the calendar of exams the schools ask for and prepare the documents step by step.
Applications
We prepare the file each school asks for in full and complete the applications according to each school's own calendar. We regularly share with you which document was sent to which school and when.
Decision
When acceptances arrive, we put the options side by side and make the final decision together, keeping the student's goal in mind.
Orientation
Orientation starts with the acceptance. We prepare the student for the new city, the school culture and the first weeks. Depending on your package, visa, accommodation and travel planning are also part of this stage.
After arrival
The first mornings in a new city feel a little strange. At the end of the first week, we have a meeting with our student: classes, housing, new friends, suggestions.
We are there after the student arrives too
Orientation starts with the offer: we prepare the student for the new city, the school culture and the first weeks. The first mornings in a new city can feel a little strange; at the end of the first week we meet the student to talk about classes, housing, new friends and tips.
What we believe
Studying abroad is a beginning.
The beginning of a good career and a healthy future.
Every student has another place of their own.
Our job is to find that place.
Trust is knowing what is happening at every step.
Throughout the process, we are open, reachable and close to the family and the student.
Some things are not said on WhatsApp.
Before setting out, every student of ours gets a letter from their consultant. Inside are the months spent together and the new life waiting for them.