The decision you make when selecting a college will affect your future. It will decide whom you will get to meet (maybe even your potential spouse!), which skills you’ll develop, and the opportunities you will have. Therefore, it is an important choice that can have an enormous impact on the rest of your existence in the future. That, as we’ve seen, comes with plenty of stress.
However, just because it’s an important decision, it doesn’t mean that it’s an important one. It is possible to have a wonderful and memorable experience at any number of schools. So don’t be hard to yourself when you struggle to pick a UK university to study abroad. There are thousands of future students in your position in a similar situation, shuffled from one place to the other, not having a clear idea of which one to choose.
How to select an institution
Below, you will find the most critical considerations when find universities. Not each of the suggestions will be applicable for you, but there’s something to think about for all students considering a university.
Think about your course and your future
Selecting a college will depend on the program you’d like to take and the profession you want to pursue after completing your degree. Not all schools provide the same degree programs; therefore, you must determine which ones offer the level you want.
Furthermore, you might want to study the specifics of the courses you are interested in to find the offered modules. Do they include a system you would like to focus on and are interested in? Are they relevant to the career you want to pursue?
Another method of evaluating the class is to look at the lecturers and professors who teach at the universities. Are they leading research with cutting-edge ideas, or have they encouraged you to enter the field?
University rankings and the employment rate
If you’re not sure what the courses which have made it to your list are, you can get more information about them, without having to go through the flashy brochures given to you by universities. It’s possible to try contacting the current students of that course to hear their opinions and experiences (this is best done during the days of open days for studies at universities).
Another method is to research the school’s rank and the course according to reputable rankings. There are several tables to look over; however, they are not all trustworthy, and the times Higher Education is among the few that are worth a look.
What happens if I make the wrong decision?
Salgado says that students are more in control over their admissions process than they realize. “It’s not about what institutions are seeking, but what am I looking for, and will that institution have the things I’m looking for?” Salgado explains. “You have the ability to control your choices. You are able to select colleges that you think would need someone like you.”
A public health graduate Varone advises not to be worried if you don’t make it into the top program you’re interested in or if you decide that the course you’re taking doesn’t suit you. There are many opportunities to make lateral moves between schools from one program to the next. “You don’t have to know the exact details of what you’ll be doing but you’ll be able to figure it out later,” she says.
Philosophy student Marsh says that students must be careful not to put excessive pressure on them to make the right choice. When it comes to selecting an institution, the only thing you have to choose is the most appropriate decision you can make with the data you’ve got. It’s not a definitive decision. “I believe that whatever I do, there will be pros and cons in every circumstance,” she says. “Every encounter is an opportunity to learn opportunity.