Choosing a college that best suits your needs and requirements from an array of universities can be a cumbersome and overwhelming experience for any student or a parent. Thus, it’s essential to take a step-by-step approach to minimise confusion and simplify the process.
The 5 steps below can smoothen out the college selection process for you:
1. Take a Virtual Campus Tour:Knowing the university where you’ll be spending the next four years is crucial, so before penning your initial list, visit the colleges. If a personal visit isn’t possible, then you must take a virtual tour on YouTube or look at videos uploaded by bloggers on campus tours. This is a great way of getting a taste of what your life would be once you are admitted to your dream college. Take note of the clubs and societies you could be part of since you will be spending a great amount of time at the college, you simply cannot invest all your time in academics. You need some playtime too. Try to figure out the extracurriculars that might intrigue you.
2. Do not jump to Ivys/top-ranking universities:Studying in the top-ranking university is a dream for all students. But let me assure you that the brand should not be the only determining factor while choosing a college. Sometimes the top colleges do not fare well in certain courses which may hamper your access to better opportunities and resources available at other colleges. Therefore, look at all possible alternatives before narrowing down your list. Trust me, you’ll be surprised by how many good colleges are out there.
3. Do not follow people or friends: Now, being around people we know may sound comforting but is not always an ideal strategy for choosing your college. When it comes to your future, you must keep “You” as your priority. Taking, or following, advice from people who are NOT the subject matter experts is always counterproductive. Because something that works for them might not work for you, and something that works for you might not work for them. Every case is unique.
4. Take opinion from your parents and your counselor:Let your counselor guide you about the options available for the course you are applying for, and then discuss it in detail with your parents. Taking their inputs and discussing the financials involved is essential as it will expedite the process.
5. Do not rush, but do not procrastinate college selection: You must finalize your college, listing all the pros and cons on a piece of paper. This will take a while, that's why do not procrastinate. You must finalize the college list before you start working on the essays and other content work. Moreover, you must not constantly change the list as it could create confusion and chaos in your application, which can jeopardize the application. Thus, it is advised not to rush while choosing and instead create a list of why & why not a college is suitable for you. This strategy will reap amazing benefits for you.
These five awesome steps can GreatlySimplify the gruelling and time-consuming process of college selection. If you are still struggling to choose colleges, don’t worry ‘Take This FREE Profile Assessment' and get to know your university list in just 10 minutes.