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Author : Grow with Grades Category : College Tips September 14, 2021

Are you looking for the perfect university for your higher studies? Are you confused between a bunch of institutes? Are you unclear about your career choices?

If yes, then read this article till the end. Here is a simple step-by-step guide for you to know what you should consider before choosing a university for your higher education.

Choosing a college and university is one of the most crucial decisions a student has to make. It can literally make or break their career. For many, it is very distressing.

A very important factor to consider is that everyone is different, so you should look for universities according to your interests and abilities. Do not fall prey to peer pressure and see what suits you the best. Look for the courses that are of your interest and do some research related to the career prospects.

Students always make a major mistake of not planning initially and making decisions at the last moment. Under pressure, decisions are made quickly, with little information. Most of them are based on misconceptions and rumors. As a result, a lot of young people, disillusioned with a career that was not what they imagined, drop out of school. They get stuck in a place where they do not belong. Others change careers.

However, it is great if you get it right the first time. As mentioned earlier, the decision is a crucial one and can be distressing. That is why it is recommended to plan everything beforehand.

If you are about to enter your college and you haven’t thought about it yet, that can be an issue. But do not worry! You are at the right place.

Have a look at the tips mentioned below and choose the right college for yourself.

Determine what career you would like to study

The first and foremost aspect to consider is your career choice. You should have clarity in your head about your interests and skills. Also, consider the subjects you have been studying in high school. Know your favorite one. Analyze what are the career prospects if you study the same subject in the future. If you have an ultimate goal, that is great. But if you do not have one, just focus on the present and nearest future.

Students do not value career prospects enough. They should keep in mind that their decision can have a great impact on their future. However, it does not mean that they should rule out a career that they love because it has a high unemployment rate.

If you are also reconsidering the career of your choice because of the unemployment rate, then for your information, job markets keep fluctuating. A career with a high unemployment rate may have a high demand long before you finish your degree.

Also, it is not worth being guided by general data. 70% unemployment means that 30% are working. It is possible that you possess qualities that will help you to be in this 30%. But how can you do that? Choosing the right university or college will help. An institute that not only offers the courses of your interests but is the best for those particular courses. The counsellor at your high school can be a good source if you want help with this assessment.

Also read- How to Write a Perfect Introduction to your Assignment

Make your criteria for choosing the college

For every student, the criteria for choosing the college or university are different. How? Some students have no issue with relocating, while some look for colleges in their hometown. Some have financial issues and some have no such issues at all.

The subjects or majors you want to study

The subjects you identified in step one represent the first important criteria. You should limit your search to only those universities that offer the courses related to subjects of your choice.

Difficulty of access

Some universities do not have any entrance exams and some conduct some tough exams for the available seats. Set your goals. If you think it is okay for you to give the exam and clear them easily, go for it. A lot of colleges and universities enroll students based on their performance in high school. So, it becomes important to score well in your high school.

It is essential to see the colleges’ admission criteria that offer your preferred course.

Cost

When you limit the money you want to spend on your studies, you have to eliminate some universities from your consideration. Don’t just focus on the course fee. Also, take into account the expenses of accommodation, food, leisure, etc. The possibility of obtaining scholarships or your willingness to combine work and studies can also influence.

The following criteria can help you further refine the list of your colleges

Popularity of the university

It can be a determining factor if this is important to you. You should do thorough research. The quality of the studies within the same university can vary for different courses. Make sure if the college you are considering is famous for the course of your interest or something else.

Faculty

Faculty plays a major role. Most of the colleges share complete information about the staff recruited for each course. Check their experience. Their teaching ability can impact your learning. It is important to find out who your professors will be. Check if they actively participate in research, if they have some industry experience etc.

The focus of the course

From one university to another, the approach towards the same course can differ greatly. Some universities focus more on the theoretical part while the other universities emphasize practical knowledge. Choose what is right for you. If possible, interact with the students already enrolled for the course of your choice. Listen to their opinion and seek advice from them as well.

Technical resources and facilities

It is necessary to check if the college has apt resources, facilities and equipment for learning. Some colleges even lack some necessary equipment required for a particular course. If possible, then you must visit the college once and examine everything on your own. You should take into account the quality of the infrastructure such as libraries, laboratories, computer labs, sports etc.

Job placement programs

There is a great variety among the programs implemented by each university to facilitate the job placement of their students. Check which college works perfectly for you. See if renowned companies visit the college for placements.

Geographical location

Do you want to stay at your home, or would you like to move to another place? It completely depends upon you. Undoubtedly, if you are okay to move out, you will have more options

Size of the university

The teacher-to-student ratio matters a lot. Do you like an environment with a lot of people or a comparatively quieter place with fewer people? It depends upon you.

Exchange programs

If you want to do part of your studies abroad, it may be important to look at the exchange programs offered by the universities on your list.

Diversity

Nowadays, diversity in the learning environment matters a lot. But again, it is one's personal opinion. If you highly value a cosmopolitan environment, choose the colleges that allow international students. Choosing an all-boys or all-girls college is also a personal choice.

Social life

Perhaps it is important for you to evaluate aspects that will influence your social life, such as the organization of extracurricular activities, clubs, teams, the demands of studies, etc.

Make a long list of universities that may interest you

Once you have some basic idea of ​​the criteria and your priorities, you can start preparing a preliminary list of colleges that may interest you. Possibly you already have suggestions from your friends, your family, and perhaps your institute counsellor.

Collect detailed information about each university on your list

Surf through the internet and find as much information you can related to the universities and colleges of your choice. Compare the colleges and look for the infrastructure environment, fee, faculty (basically everything on your criteria), etc.

If you have family members or friends who are students or alumni of the colleges on your list, ask them several questions about the institute. They can be an excellent source of information. Another option to get first-hand information is to go through the official websites of all the colleges.

You can also attend some college fairs. They allow you to speak directly to representatives from different universities.

Understand your priorities and shorten your list

When you know your priorities and you have set your criteria for choosing the colleges, all you need to do is review the list you have. Write the criteria on one side of a paper, and on the other side, write the names of the colleges. Remove those which do not fulfill your criteria.

The goal is to narrow the list down to a reasonable number so that you can visit the colleges in person. What is a reasonable number for you? Only you know the answer.

Visit the colleges on your shortened list

There is no better way to get to know a university than to visit it in person. Talk to students and teachers, attend a class, and feel the atmosphere. You have to spend a few of the most important years of your life. So, make the decision wisely.

Don't you think it is worth spending a few hours at each university you are considering? It will help you ensure if you would be comfortable there or not. IIf it is not possible tovisit the colleges due to geographical boundaries or any such reason, you must talk to the students and the alumni. They will surely give you an honest opinion. You will get a clear idea if you fit into that place or not.

Apply to the universities you liked

The research part- probably the most difficult one, is over once you visit the universities. After that, you have to make the last and the final list of universities and apply for admission. Here also, the number may vary. Some students may have three universities on the final list, and some may have five.

It would be great if you come up with a final list like this.

College 1 and College 2- The difficulty of getting admission is high because of the entrance criteria. However, it is not impossible to get admission to both of the institutes.

College 3 and College 4- You have a good chance of getting admission in both. And in one, it is almost certain that you will get admission.

College 5- The last and final option where there is 100% surety of getting admission.

This way, you will cover all the possibilities.

Some people only apply to the best universities. However, some apply to a few universities only. And also, there is no point in sending an application to a university where you would not go even if they accept you. So, analyze and see what works best for you.

Choose between the universities that have admitted you

If you have followed all the steps, the chances are higher that you get an admission call from more than one university. You will be left with the best options for you. The universities will convince you to choose them. The decision that seemed difficult at one time, will be easy.

If you have applied for a scholarship or other aid, consider the benefits that each university will provide.  If your first choice has given you the lowest offer, do not rule out talking to them again. However, if you see a huge difference in the admission cost and other benefits you will receive, choose the other one.

Conclusion

Undoubtedly, choosing a college and a university is a crucial task. But with a proper plan, you can make it easy. Another important aspect is knowledge. Get as much knowledge about the course of your choice before starting the research. It will help you examine the universities and colleges while your research and you will easily notice the shortcomings of the institutes.

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