Choosing a University that is right for You

Going to University or College is a big step in your life. You will experience a lot of changes that can be good or bad. You will leave many of your friends behind and make new friends at your new school. But before all of that happens, you need to make several decisions. These choices can be easy for some people, but very difficult for others. Choosing the most suitable Study for you is one thing, but selecting the right college/university might also be a challenge. Therefore, this article will guide you through some steps on how to make it easier to choose the ideal school for you.

Are you going to Study abroad?

In case you stay in your own country to study, feel free to skip this part of the article.

Nowadays, more and more young people tend to go abroad to pursue their masters or bachelor’s degrees. The reason is it’s a lot easier to study abroad now than ever before. Flights became cheaper, schools became more international, Scholarships are easy to find, and technology has made it more convenient to study in another country.

Choosing a college when studying abroad could be much more comfortable than when you consider in your own country. If you want to study abroad for a semester or during summer, while you are currently studying in your own country already, then your current school may offer some options for you. These options can make it very easy for you to select the right institution.

The Services of An Admission Agency

If you are not enlisted in any school at the moment, or your school does not offer any possibilities, then choosing an agency to help you might also be the right solution. Agencies have tons of connections with many Universities that you can gain admission. Agencies also can find out which school and Study fit you most, which could save a lot of time.

If you are choosing an agency to help you, you will discover how much they have developed in the past few years. Combining technology and their big network, some agencies are capable of what was impossible a few years ago. They will not only help you with finding the best Study and school for you but also support you during the process. Studying abroad could be a big challenge. Some countries require visas; other countries might have strict rules before you can apply to a school. Choosing for an agency to help you will save time, and in most cases, money as well.

You enjoy free internships, Career coaching, job matching, and access to a large community of business people and international students. China Scholar offers so much for international students who are considering studying in China. Check out our approach and philosophy.

In case you are not using for an agency to help you, nor does your current school offer possibilities for going abroad (in case you are enlisted in any school at the moment). It is suggested to follow the guidelines listed below. These guidelines are useful for people that study in their own country, but might also be helpful for people that study abroad.

How to Select the Right College/University

If you have made it this far into the article, you probably have some struggles with selecting your next school. The decision should be in your own hands, not of your parents/caretakers, friends or any other people. Choosing for yourself does require the right method because it would be a pity to regret your decision. Therefore, here are some tips and tricks on how to choose a school that would fit you the most.

1. 1. Choose the right Study first.

In case you have not selected your choice of Study yet, feel free to read the article regarding this matter on our blog. It is a tough decision whether you should choose your Study first or your school. In case you are very ambitious and want to get a diploma with a lot of credit on a highly rated school, then choosing the college/university first is suggested. After you have selected one of those top universities, you can see if they offer the right Study for you as well.

In all other cases than the above, it is highly suggested to choose your Study first. This will not only make it easier for you to choose a University but is also the wisest decision. Many students tend to stop their Study after one year because they selected a course they did not like or did not fit them. Of course, a school can also have an impact on this, but that is less likely to happen than the choice of Study. Therefore, choose your Study first, and then you have a better view of which school you will necessarily choose.

2. 2. Look for Reviews

Not only restaurants and hotels have reviews, but Universities and Countries also have it too. In case you are not that ambitious to choose the top college/university, you still have to see if a school is worth it to decide. Students are usually told to fill in surveys for their school. Look for those surveys and see what they reveal about the institution. This way, you can get a better feeling if the school fits you or not. Reviews are also an excellent way to talk about negative things. Some schools have stuff you might not like, so this makes it easy to filter through them.

3. 3. Take your time

When selecting your school, you do not want to rush. Start searching way before the applications per semester are open. If you are too late, you will need to wait for an entire semester or sometimes even a year, which would be a bummer. Planning when to look for institutions will save you a lot of stress.

If you start your search in time, you will have more options that are open, and many schools like the initiative you are taking as well. This shows that you are motivated and can also help you during your Study. Do not rush to conclusions, and it is easier to select a school than to quit school. Other than the difficulty, it is also a waste of time to stop your Study before finishing it.

4. 4. Visit, Visit, Visit

Step 3 will help you a lot with this one. In case you are a busy person, you need to make use of proper planning for this trip as well. Visiting open days or even walk-in-days where you take part in an entire day on a school will open your eyes. Looking online is usually not enough to select the college/university that you are looking for. You need to get the real feeling of what the school looks like on the in- and outside.

When you visited an open day or walk-in-day that was not successful, do not be upset! Just think how bad it would be if you blindly chose to do a study in that school. Also, on an open day, you meet plenty of other people that are also looking for the same thing as you. Therefore, ask them for suggestions, because they are the ones that probably most relate to you as well!

5. 5. Deciding based on Location

This is one of the biggest things you should avoid when picking your school. Whether you choose to study abroad or in your own country, you do not want to put all your focus on selecting the Perfect Location for your Study. Yes, it is helpful if the area around the school looks nice or is very convenient for you. However, if the school itself is a complete disaster, then was it still worth it?

Choosing the Location for a school could be an opener for your search, though. If you don’t know where to start looking for a school, then see if the area of your interest offers any schools you like. Keep in mind, though, and if the school does not meet your expectations, then the lovely surroundings usually won’t make up for it.