Picking the Right University

In today's society, parents and teachers are no longer asking high school seniors if they are going to college, but asking what college they are going to attend. The assumption is already made, the answer carved into stone, once you graduate from high school, you must continue your education at a higher institution. Parents try to teach their children that a college degree equals success and a good paying job. What they don't talk about is the process of getting a degree and the fact that we are rarely ever certain of the path we want to take.

There are a lot of colleges around the world and picking the right one for you can be stressful, frustrating and downright confusing. Once junior year ends, you should be focused on choosing which colleges you may want to invest your time and knowledge in. Before choosing your college, there's a short-list you can use to narrow down your search field: academic programs offered, the school's minimum requirements, location, and tuition cost.

Academic Programs: If you're a student with a clear idea of what field you'd like to go into after obtaining a degree, finding a school with your major will be much easier. For those who are still unsure, you should look into colleges that feature a number of majors you're interested in. Since it's usually possible to change your major any time before your third year, by doing this, you can keep your options open instead of being forced to make a snap decision before applying.

Location and housing: When deciding on a college, location and housing should play a part. The distance of your college determines whether you'll be able to live at home, rent free, or if you'll have to share a dorm on campus; if you'll be able to visit home every other weekend, or if you'll only be able to return during winter break? Look into whether or not the college provides housing for students, or if it's mandatory that students live on campus. Discuss the distance with your parents, especially if you want to attend a college that's far away. Is it a reasonable distance to drive and if not, can you afford an alternative method of transportation? Location and housing is a vital part of the college application process that students often forget; make sure you don't.

Tuition, Scholarships, and Affordability: While we all have our dream colleges, we also have to be realistic in terms of what we (and our families) can afford. With the help of scholarships and other student financial aid services, we can widen our range of schools we can afford, but it's still important to pay attention to tuition costs. While looking into possible colleges, be sure to look over their cost of tuition (including enrollment and application fees) and cost of room and board (if you plan to live on campus). Always search the university’s site for available scholarships and pay close attention to deadlines. If your country/state offers student financial aid of any sort, make sure you look over that information and apply as early as possible. And, as always, sit and talk with your parents (or whomever may be able to help you with tuition) about how much (if anything) they are able to help you with.

Remember, while loans are certainly an option, they should always be a last resort, only used after all other option are exhausted.

Picking a college doesn't have to be a difficult process if the right steps are taken and carefully thought out because after all, it is your future we are talking about.

Helpful Resources:

College Board – students wishing to attend universities and colleges in the United States.

UCAS:Universities & Colleges Admissions Service – students wishing to attend universities in the United Kingdom

* If there are sites like these for the country in which you live, please feel free to leave a link in the comment section and well add it to list of helpful resources.

- More articles like these can be found at the Mibba Magazine.