Selecting a college or university is one of the biggest decisions you will make that will impact your future career and livelihood. So what are all the aspects you need to think of to ensure you make a good choice?
Choosing a college may be the first decision you make for yourself about your education. After all, the choice of schooling you had so far was likely to come from your parents or other caregivers. So what are you supposed to think about when selecting the place you will go onto for further study? In reality, there are many factors that need to align when it comes to making the best choice for you.
Select Your Subject Wisely
Before you even start looking at colleges, you need to know what subject you want to study. This is something that requires some time and careful thought. Don’t get caught up in an idea that a parent or teacher is keen for you to do, if you’re not really sure about it. Enjoy some space to think for yourself about subjects and possible future careers. What are you passionate about, and what are you good at? What could you see yourself being motivated to get out of bed every morning for? You may not have all the answers, but if you think about these points honestly, you’re more likely to find a subject that is right for you to study.
Research Relevant Colleges
Once you’re certain of your subject, look into all the colleges that offer that particular course. You’ll have a longer list of colleges for more popular subjects, but if you have honed in on a more specialist degree program, this will help you identify the colleges that you need to focus on. Look at your list of colleges in terms of their rankings, as a more prestigious institution will help you more when it comes to finding a job later down the line. Look at all the key statistics such as entry requirements, and start to map out which colleges might be a good match for your grades. Looking at acceptance rates will also help you see how realistic your application might be. For example, the Columbia acceptance rate will be proportionately lower compared to less sought-after universities.
Look At The Fees
Creating your list of top colleges that rank the best for your subject is a good start, but it might not be realistic for you to be able to attend all of them. The first thing to consider is fees. Different colleges and universities charge varying fees per semester, so you’ll want to shortlist colleges based on affordability too. You’ll need to calculate a realistic budget and consider how much of a loan you are willing to take on. While more expensive colleges would argue their higher fees translate into a better education and earning potential, crunch the numbers for yourself to see what is feasible for your personal circumstances. You don’t want to make an expensive mistake that cannot be undone.
Consider Geography
Another important aspect is the geographical location of your list of top colleges. While it’s no problem for some people to pack up and move to wherever they need to for their education, this is not an approach everyone can manage. Some people may need to be within a certain travelling distance of home for family reasons; others may simply not want to be too far from friends and loved ones. While it’s often beneficial to push yourself to have new experiences in different places, some people know they will thrive better closer to familiar surroundings. Take a close look at your list of top colleges for your subject and look at the travel times between the college and other places you need to visit. You may gradually start to discount some universities and colleges for these more practical reasons.
Look Into The Course Curriculum
Once you’re starting to hone in on a few colleges and universities that seem promising to you, start to dig into the details a little bit more. This includes the course content and exactly what is covered in the curriculum, how the content is delivered, and how many classroom hours there are per week. If you know you learn best through group projects and smaller sessions, you might be more tempted by a college that offers lots of hands-on workshops. A great way to figure out if a college is really for you is to visit it and meet people. This will give you an opportunity to get a feeling of the place, imagine where you would be learning and potentially living too. Importantly, you should also get a chance to meet both lecturers and students, when you can ask as many questions as you can think of to get an idea of the course and the community.