EDUCATION has been described as a treasure a person can possess that can never be stolen. With the economic slump and the crisis that the country is experiencing now, it is surprising to know that many are still willing to spend huge sums just to study abroad.

"I think it's everybody's dream," said 21-year-old Christian Miranda, who believes that the Filipinos deserve the best kind of education that they can have.

A freshman at the Center for International Education (CIE), he set up a consulting firm that would assist students to get into any university in the US and the UK.

The business came to mind when a high school friend of his came back to the country after studying Nuclear Biosciences in the University of Manchester. According to Christian, this opened a door for him to learn how international education really works.

He then sent out applications to the University of Manchester, University of Durham, University of Leeds and Cambridge University. Only Cambridge did not accept him because he failed to meet the submission deadline.

"But then I wasn't informed that I should have money," he said. There was no scholarship for him so he didn't go to UK.

Ambassadors

In February, he formally set up the Embassy of Foreign Universities, wherein he assembled a group of 50 consultants he calls "ambassadors," who guide his clients through the application process in foreign universities.

The ambassadors are Filipinos who graduated abroad, and who chose to come back to the country to help other students fulfill their dreams.

Christian said that his clients will have consultations with a psychologist, who would look into and help decide what course or program to take. Through this talk, the Embassy would also be able to prevent a prospective client's real intention of working abroad in the guise of pursuing further studies.

"The first encounter is a chat. So we would gain the knowledge about what this person is about, and who this person is," said Christian. "I think that is what we'll soon be basing our company-on personal encounters."

He said that through the first encounter, they would also be able to feel what the chances of the prospective client would be.

"We would be as honest as possible [if the need arises]. I mean we would tell the client, 'You know, you will not get to Harvard,'" said Christian. "We will not give false expectations. That's the No. 1 rule. We don't want to make an illusion out of that."

Applications

The clients though, can apply to as many universities as they want in the United States, but only up to six in the UK. Christian's company will assist in the review for examinations like IELTS, SATs and GMAT. Then, the embassy will be responsible for submitting the applications, and when the client passes, they will also assist with the passport, travel and visa applications.

If the client gets through entrance exams and decides to go for it, Christian's company will give a pre-departure orientation, which will give them a feel of the university they've chosen. There are one-hour meetings per month with the respective ambassador for the school they've chosen.

Christian said that they will also assist in finding a scholarship grant for the client who would need it.

"That's one of the prime concerns of my company, we would like to give the opportunity for Filipinos who do not have the capacity to pay and they have the capability to actually pass. Actually we would also serve as a venue for companies to also give scholarships," he explained.

Christian said that if the ambassador sees that the client is really good, they would give recommendation letters for the university they're applying to. Some schools abroad give weight to recommendation letters endorsed by their alumni.

Lack of funds

When asked if universities in the country can compete with these foreign schools, Christian answered, "Sadly, no. It is my regret that no, we can not-because currently we don't have the funds to actually compete. Like Harvard has an endowment of $28.5 billion a year. It does not even include what they earn from the tuition fees. So how can we compete from that level palang?

"If we had that kind of money you can employ the best people in the world, we can have the best computers, we can have the best facilities."

Christian related that when his friend came back to the country, she wasn't talking about the curriculum nor the exams of the school she studied in. Rather, she told him about the experience, the places she went to, the people she interacted with. And these stories led Christian to think that it is important to see what it's really like abroad and bringing that experience to the Philippines.

"No, it's not colonial mentality," he said. "I think it's being open, it's being global. And I think that is the way to go. Being global at the same time retaining the spirit of being a Filipino."

Christian said that in a few years' time, if his grades would permit him, he would want to go to Harvard one day. "And then I would come back."

$700 to apply

It would cost a client $700 or P57,800 to apply in the Embassy of Foreign Universities. Compared with other consulting firms, Christian's is still moderately priced. But there is no guarantee of admission. The exams to be taken are entirely on the client's ability to pass. What the embassy would do is increase the chances of passing with the help of their rigorous review and monthly consultations with the ambassadors.

"We have a 5-year development plan. For this year we're open to US and UK. Probably we're going to open up Canada, Japan and Australia by the end of this year. Then the following year our target would be to open up the French, Spanish and German markets," said Christian.

The embassy has 25 clients. Christian said that those who will be sent abroad will not be required to come back and do the same thing that the ambassadors did for them.

"We don't require, but we want our clients to realize, that they can have all the money that they want, but this is our country, this is our home and I think if you'll give back something, it would be here," he said.

Lex Ledesma, executive director of CIE had this to add, "If these people all went to universities abroad and came back here, I believe that there is still hope [for the country]."

For more information, email Christian Miranda at cmiranda@gmail.com, or call 753-2828 and 887-2828.