Getting into university is a significant milestone and opportunity, making your university choice a critical decision. There are several things you need to consider when picking a college, and it can be tricky to make the right choice for yourself. As reported in statistics by US News, there were nearly 4,000 higher education institutions in the US as of the school year 2019-2020. Considering the massive number of choices, many people rely on the college rankings list, but there are still 1,400 colleges.
While college rankings can provide a great overview of your potential choices, it’s helpful to go in-depth with your research. You can find the best possible college by understanding what you want and what information you should seek. Below are four strategic tips for choosing the right university.
Research course content
While a university may have an excellent overall reputation, it’s essential to consider how it fares in your courses of interest. For example, Yale University offers studies in both art and sciences but is best known for its law courses, whereas Johns Hopkins University is famous for its medical studies.
Beyond choosing the course, you need to research the course content. Many colleges provide course handbooks online, but alternatively, you can contact the university directly to learn more about the classes offered with the degree. Read about the unit descriptions, topics covered, and class reviews. When possible, it’s recommended that you visit the university to check out its educational facilities, like laboratories and classrooms. If you find yourself excited about these things, it’s a good sign that this is the right university for you.
Ask questions about campus life
Most people heading into university may be excited about the application process, especially if the school has a high reputation for its academic qualities. However, many also fail to ask important questions about life in schools— things that could impact their decision. Studocu evaluates its World University Rankings with several questions posed to students across categories like Food, On-Campus Housing, Dating Scene, and Social Clubs, to name a few. Through their platform, students share unique insights about their study experience, giving a view from the inside. Future students can then make informed decisions about whether the university fits their ideal student life, both academically and culturally.
Learn about the university’s network
Aside from existing course offerings, schools may offer career support services or experiences beyond campus. These opportunities expand your network, which is valuable to your future career and is a great way to discover new interests and passions. Our previous post shared how Kazakh universities will work directly with Harvard University, potentially opening internship programs and exchanges between university students and scientists. Not only does this spur higher education and science in Kazakhstan, but students from Harvard can have more substantial hands-on experience studying abroad. To learn about these extra services, it helps to look into the university’s network, as it’s where the school pulls these experiences from.
Evaluate college admission, retention, and graduate rates
Numbers can play a huge role in telling a story about the school, but stay critical of the numbers you assess. For instance, many schools may brag about their campus size, which may be insignificant in your overall evaluation. The most important numbers you should always look for are the retention and graduation rates. A National Center for Education Statistics report notes that the national average for schools depends on whether the institution is a public, private nonprofit, or private for-profit. Across both retention and graduation rates, private for-profit colleges had the lowest numbers— 63% and 29%, respectively, for 4-year bachelor’s degrees by 2020. By looking at these numbers, you can measure the quality of the university and assess whether studying there is worth the financial and time investment.
