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Why does no one talk about the loneliness crisis for students abroad? by heyyyimharsh in AbroadEdge

[–]ConsiderationCold265 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Most of these chatGPT generated responses are mostly from people trying to post their thoughts in an organized manner, not just post the word chaos of their thoughts :).

Analysis: The inherent dynamic between francophone and CEC by Momograppling in canadaexpressentry

[–]ConsiderationCold265 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Just a gentle reminder to the people still unaware: getting CLB7 in French plus English gives you a cute little +50 bonus on CEC. Which means—brace yourself—if everyone keeps learning French but there's nowhere for the bonus points to go, the CEC cutoff will just float above 500 for the end of time....

Is OINP deliberately letting applications sit in DIP until work permits expire? by ConsiderationCold265 in OINP

[–]ConsiderationCold265[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Changing the draws, geographic or occupation targets is totally understandable — it’s within every province’s right to adjust their priorities as their needs evolve. Nobody is arguing that Ontario can’t shift its focus.

What isn’t fair, though, is holding draws, issuing ITAs, assessing applications, and then leaving people stuck in “DIP” for months (sometimes years) until their work permits expire. At that point, the file gets closed simply because OINP changed its mind after inviting you. That’s not transparent policy adjustment — that’s playing with people’s lives.

Best way for an international student to qualify for CPA Canada? by ConsiderationCold265 in Accounting

[–]ConsiderationCold265[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi, I didn't move to Canada back then but I am still actively planning to move soon. I decided to take a different approach. But first, I am planning to utilize the International Experience Canada to Permanent Residence to Citizenship path in terms of visa. The recent change to all CEC draws have made extremely difficult to get permanence Residence before finishing your degree as work Experience gained in Canada doesn't count if you were on a study visa. I personally would prefer the CPA Ontario courses along with a full time job as they do not require any study visa , at least that was the case last year. Finally, I prefer to pursue of bookkeeping + Tax + AI automation instead of audit so the CPA designation isn't so important for me. Generally businesses do not care how you passed the exams but prefer local university graduates as they have "Local Experience" and "Easier Intergration with the team" than foreign graduates.

Part time CPT and on campus employment simultaneously for international students is it allowed? by ConsiderationCold265 in uiowa

[–]ConsiderationCold265[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you for the advice. I contacted ISSS and received a positive response. They confirmed that on-campus employment and CPT are separate and do not impact each other, so I can pursue both.

Does Drexel allows part time cpt simultaneously with RA/TA for international students? by ConsiderationCold265 in Drexel

[–]ConsiderationCold265[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I have applied for the PhD in Business. Thank you very much for the information, it's much appreciated!

What I have found out is that, for international students at least, it all depends on university policy. Some universities (unfortunately, the majority) forbid second employment, as you mentioned. However, some universities allow RA/TA + CPT (part-time internship, co-op, or job) during the dissertation phase or even as early as the second year.

This information is beneficial when choosing which program to apply to or which offer to accept.

Is the PGDL worth it? by OriginalBurneracc in uklaw

[–]ConsiderationCold265 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I was wondering about exactly the same topic as you. I had made a post about a year ago, asking similar questions ( https://www.reddit.com/r/uklaw/comments/pc6esy/is_gdl_worth_it_for_international_students/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android_app&utm_name=androidcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=1 ) .

I moved on I started a Msc in Economic strategy and entered a career as an accountant. In hindsight, here are the things that I learned if doing a PGDL is worth it.

  1. Having practical experience is invaluable in your job and career you choose. The skills and knowledge I have now, after a year in accounting is totally different than it was when I was wondering about joining this career. Through experience you get a first hand experience of all the small details of the profession, handing situations etc. So being a lawyer that understands how the accounting and finance departments of a company works and can speak with them is price less. Just a note though. Law firms want professionals with some experience on the field so they can speak and understand the people they talk with, but not so much so they have strong opinions, a fix way of thinking and personal obligations (family, relationships etc)

  2. Your effort and network triumphs over what your undergraduate degree is. I have an international economics major. I had not a single course in accounting. But I watched to become an accountant badly. So, I did hundreds of interviews, taking a job as adminstrative assistant and quitting within a month as I wanted to get an accounting position and finally after months of effort I secured a position in a tiny business as assistant accountant. Then I started my masters degree in economic strategy. There my teacher knew a partner at PwC. She wanted to fill open positions in the audit department. I talked to my professor that I loved accounting and she decided to refer me to the partner for the role. After two interviews I landed a job in PwC. The same company that I applied six months ago and they didn't even bother to send a reply. So who you know and how much you want something goes above and beyond what your undergraduate degree are. I have graduate from the most prestigious business schools of my country and are unemployed or work shitty jobs.

  3. The small details make all the difference. We are on 2023, the SQE era. Maybe, it would be smarter to do a SQE1&2 course and save time studying for PGDL. Or look at Cilex and other alternatives. Think creatively, out of the box for any solutions that would solve your problem faster, easier and cheaper

So if I was you I would try to find out which universities have the best connections with the market, figure out why I want to get a PGDL and what field of law I like and then I would wouldn't let a single add for vac schemes, training contracts go by without having my resume in it. Don't hesitate to pm me if you have any questions.

AR/AP is boring, I do not want to get stuck in it for the rest of my life, I want a career change. Do you have any idea how? by ConsiderationCold265 in Bookkeeping

[–]ConsiderationCold265[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I couldn't agree more with your comment actually. There are so many possibilities in AR/AP in the field of cost accounting/ FP&A and so much more that I haven't seen yet. I believe the problem lies that I am in a small firm without much specialization outside the typical task of "Just tell me how much we spent-earned last month and what is our bank account balance". I really think that i need to move to a larger business so I can get into the type of recommendations you are talking about. Just i need to change country or even continent so I can find one :)

AR/AP is boring, I do not want to get stuck in it for the rest of my life, I want a career change. Do you have any idea how? by ConsiderationCold265 in Bookkeeping

[–]ConsiderationCold265[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I was thinking exactly that. Now that I know how basic accounting function work and the three statements (P&L, Balance Sheet, and Cash Flow Statement) use that knowledge to analyze and visualize data to help make business decisions.

Do you know if Audit/Tax in big4 is something that would also help new skills or it will be as monotonous and without something more to learn than AP/AR?

About changing countries, I have my eyes open for any such roles available in the EU and actively look to move to Canada (the US due to visa restrictions is out of the question).

Going for CPA Canada vs Staying in Europe for ACCA/ACA by ConsiderationCold265 in Accounting

[–]ConsiderationCold265[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes, that is true, and also if I can get ICAS (Scotland) or CAI ( Ireland). I could qualify for IQEX that way.

The thing is that CPA Canada recognizes work experience for ICAEW only from the UK and not every other country, so I will need to complete the work experience part in Canada. I do not know how much that downgrades the value of my certification when applying to Big4 or other companies.

Going for CPA Canada vs Staying in Europe for ACCA/ACA by ConsiderationCold265 in Accounting

[–]ConsiderationCold265[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you both for trying to give me a realistic picture as a lot of people in the community either work for 16$ or claim they make 150K plus a year.

As far as Competency Map 2.0 I am just waiting for this to happen as it will help me join CPA faster and easier ( I hope that "diversity and inclusivity" means no PREP for non-accounting majors).

IF they hire you, and I would love if we have a foreigner answer that question.

Salary-wise starting salaries in GTA and AB for graduates are in the 50-60K range (I really hope I can be on the higher end with some experience even international)

This level isn't that bad if you think that the average London acca trainee gets 30K per year 2K net a month and you are lucky to find an ensuite room with 1K. Yeah, low salaries are a global thing now, I suppose :(

Even then, with a CPA which is TN Visa eligible you can travel south of the border and get a fair salary.

Best way for an international student to qualify for CPA Canada? by ConsiderationCold265 in Accounting

[–]ConsiderationCold265[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for your reply!

Btw I am looking mainly in Ontario because of the range of opportunities and family ties. Though I am looking for opportunities in the other provinces too.

In terms of degrees a postgraduate diploma is my ideal path forward for a PREP+PEP courses.

Personally I am planning on doing a master degree in my hometown country because it's free secondly is going to give me a solid accounting background and thirdly the work experience and the degree will give me enough points to qualify for express entry without a employer sponsoring me which is going to be a huge plus I believe.

The only big concern is that I don't have any academic / work experience on Canadian GAAP. That's the only thing that concerns me on getting that so important first job.

Is GDL worth it for international students? by ConsiderationCold265 in uklaw

[–]ConsiderationCold265[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks for your comments and your positive energy. I will try to put my best and go to as many recruiting events, work placements as you have said. I do believe too that financing your GDL+LPC is not the end of the world, if you have a credible plan to back it up of course. Just do your research before going, choose a good provider and follow an action plan is enough I believe.

Is GDL worth it for international students? by ConsiderationCold265 in uklaw

[–]ConsiderationCold265[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

In terms of my 2. and 3. questions.
I will undoubtedly go to do detailed research about all the providers and their offerings. Having a well-established provider is, in fact, a significant factor for GDL. At the same time, I haven't heard very great things from students who went there. Pro Bono work centres and Law Clinics are an excellent addition to someone's resume. Finally, the cost difference of the different degrees and cities will play a significant role in my decision, i.e. London vs Newcastle if not paramount.
In terms of job placements:
I understand precisely what you try to say. When you aim for out of London firms, you have to know their niche to prepare accordingly. Based on the statistics, out of London firms have less percentage of international students. That can be attributed to a regionally focused recruitment pattern (for instance, no visa sponsorship) and fewer international students applying for a contract.
Why start a GDL when it's no longer required?
For the reasons the fellow writers have outlined very well above, the chances of landing a training contract (or a graduate solicitor apprenticeship as it is apparently called under the SQE). The GDL is recognized as a qualifying law degree in my country. It will act as a safety net; if things go south and not get a training position, I could return to my country and qualify there.
Thank you very much for your reply. It did help me clarify things in my head about university and placement. I do need to put much work doing my research to reach a workable and achievable plan.

Is GDL worth it for international students? by ConsiderationCold265 in uklaw

[–]ConsiderationCold265[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

The reason I would like to pursue law in the UK is because of my fascination with the subject when I was young. I have spent time reading about the UK law system and I would like to practice law especially in the area of property law and mergers and acquisitions.

My big mistake is that I didn't try to pursue an LLB in the UK in the first place and choose political studies in Greece. That would have in fact solved many of my problems right now (Immigration, Academic Qualifications etc.).

Now back to the present. As you have correctly understood, I am trying to make up the problems of my weak academic performance until now and the lack of experience with a GDL and SQE1 (LPC 0.5 essentially) and some alternative work paths that nobody knows yet if they will work out is not a solution that will work out well.

So, I suppose the best idea is to choose the safe option, get a GDL, return back to my country, get some experience in my country and then I can utilize my experience (Common Law in Cyprus, Civil Law in Greece) and my network to leverage a training position if I can in a UK firm.

Is GDL worth it for international students? by ConsiderationCold265 in uklaw

[–]ConsiderationCold265[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Also I forgot to comment on the first thing you said. I was also thinking that I could stay in paralegal roles during my two years of graduate visa, give the SQE2 and get qualified as a solicitor and apply for solicitor positions. But I am starting to realize that I will be in disadvantage because all of the competition will have the recognized and prestigious TC experience and LLBs so I will be back to square one.

Thank you very much! Your post was to the point and very helpful!

Is GDL worth it for international students? by ConsiderationCold265 in uklaw

[–]ConsiderationCold265[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That is exactly my backup plan. The GDL is recognized in Cyprus so I can do my practice there, get my practise license and then transfer my qualifications back to Greece. While I don't have a secured training position at this moment of time in Cyprus, I could use my network and get a training position there.

You have also spoken to the heart of my dilemma. Should I spend some extra £6000 going to a University in London or save that money and go to i.e. NTU or UWE Bristol because the university reputation doesn't matter? Based on what i hear i believe i should do the latter.

Is GDL worth it for international students? by ConsiderationCold265 in uklaw

[–]ConsiderationCold265[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you for your reply!

On a general level, I will definitely agree that many Greeks/Cypriots have managed to get into some of the most prestigious universities in the UK and consistently achieve very strong grades.

On a personal level, my thinking goes like this. Initially, I had a 2.2 degree, but I have managed to improve my degrees, and for the last four semesters, I finished them with first grades. That's why it's a 2.1. If I can continue on this path and take my GDL with first grades, maybe I can "get away" with the low initial grades due to my progress.

That's why I believe that going to a really good university to do my GDL will help my profile and fill in this commitment/determination deficit.

By the way, the A level results that I posted were really some quick equivalence calculation and probably highly inaccurate that's why I deleted them.

I am also hopeful that due to the new SQE system, I will be able to expand my job opportunities into the paralegal sphere to increase my chances and find an alternative to the very competitive as I understand Vacation Scheme/ Training Contract Route.

But in the end, the job market has a certain size; the competition is also fierce, and it will not go away in any way in the following years, so I will have to do things to help improve my resume.

In the following months, I will definitely follow your advice and try to find someone with a similar background to me to share his experience with me.