Choose a College or University that is Right for You

Choosing an Area of Study

Do you already know what you want to study? Start by creating a list of these schools and indicate their pros and cons. Some schools may present the same type of program but in a different format. For example, do they offer a condensed version of the program? What about being able to choose a specialization? Do they have specific courses that really appeal to you but are offered nowhere else? What about a practicum option?

If you have not yet selected your area of study when choosing a school with a variety of options might be a good solution. Alternatively, going to college, rather than university, might shed some light as to the direction you may want to take while costing about half the amount.

Action: Create a list of all the schools that offer your program. Speak to someone in the faculty and read the information online. List the pros and cons of each school. What is the best fit for you?

Proximity to Home

Choosing a school that is close to your home can potentially save thousands of dollars a year. For some students, however, living at home is just not an option. Other students find that the local colleges or universities simply do not provide what they are looking for.

Action: Create a spreadsheet to estimate the cost of living on your own. This could include living on campus or off campus. Outline costs; such as food, internet, electricity, heat, and furnishings. Do not forget the cost of traveling back home for visits.

Admission Requirements

A school can be a perfect fit in many respects but if you do not have the grades required to be accepted then it may not be an option. Of course, your grade point average can change. What about retaking courses at night school or online to achieve a higher grade? Another option is to take your first two years at a college and then transfer to a university. Most colleges have a transfer program. You would take the same or equivalent courses so no time is wasted. When transferring from a college to a university the admission requirements are often lower. This may allow you to gain entry into the university of your choice.

Action: Create a spreadsheet of all possible colleges and universities. Determine the admission requirements. Highlight the schools where you would most likely be accepted. Keep in mind that they often only post the minimum requirements. If there are a lot of applicants then they often only accept those with the highest marks. Also, look into transfer programs at colleges and determine if this could be an option.

Cost

For many, the cost of tuition is the deciding factor when choosing a college or university. This is certainly understandable as it can be very expensive. Thankfully there are a lot of options for scholarships, grants, and bursaries. Some students have even been able to pay for a good portion of their fees through these programs.

A viable option for a lot of students is to first go to college and then transfer to a university. You could still graduate within the same time frame while saving thousands of dollars.

Action: Determine the cost of attending the universities that provide your program. If it is an option, look at which colleges could provide a transfer program. How much would you save if you did your first two years at college and transferred to a university?

Environment

Of course, studying is the first priority but what will you want to do during your free time? These years are precious and can be full of rewarding memories. Attending a school in a rural community or a large city would provide a completely different experience. The same applies to the climate and landscape. Do you want to spend your free time hiking mountains, swimming in lakes or skiing?

Action: Take a look at your shortened list of schools and determine the pros and cons of each environment. What works best for you?

School Size

Moving from a high school to a college or university can be overwhelming. Class sizes in the first and second-year courses are on average about three hundred students. It is easy to feel lost in the crowd. Some students really thrive in large class sizes whereas other students may shut down. It depends on your personality and background.

Action: Which schools would work best for your personality?

Once you have narrowed your list down to a handful of schools you will need to put together your application package. Sometimes this can include a cover letter, which often follows a strict format. This is an important step. If you require assistance with your application package then contact Tutors on Call. One of our English tutors can help!