Choosing a university is one of the biggest decisions that you will make as a student, and it can be quite daunting if you don’t know where to start. Also, choosing a university is about more than the name on the degree/diploma. Which place a student goes to study, touches numerous aspects of his or her life, from academic studies to social activities and beyond. Keeping in mind the importance of this decision, students should think deeply before enrolling in a university.
How to make up your mind?
Before you begin your search you must ask yourself the following questions.
- Do you want to enroll yourself in the best course compromising on your other needs, such as better hostel facilities?
- Do you want a course which may be average or good but caters to your other requirements (premium hostels facilities, sports facilities on campus, etc?
- Do you want a university that assures work placement?
You must be very sure about how you want the next four years (or more) of your life. At the end of the day, it is you who would study there.
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Tips on How to Choose the Best University
1. Shortlist the universities
Typically, a lot of thought goes into shortlisting universities you would like to attend. But what kind of factors should drive your thinking when crafting that list? Apart from the course, there may be other things to think of such as location, majors and programs, the people on campus, opportunities outside of the classroom, cost, etc.
2. Rank your priorities
Weigh the pros and cons of a particular university while ranking them. Think thoroughly about how you would want to spend the next four years of your life.
3. Check on-Campus Job Options
Landing up a job is the primary reason for choosing the best university. Students must check on job fairs, on-campus interview opportunities, and counseling options. You must ensure that there are sufficient resources to give you the help you’ll need.
4. University Rankings
If you are open to studying abroad (in case the best universities for your chosen field are not in India) then you must check university rankings online. If you are considering a University rating system like the QS stars which gives the university an overall rating out of five so that you can make a more informed choice. This is the perfect way to get detailed information about a particular university. You get information on university infrastructure, teaching quality, research quality, community engagement, graduate employability, internationalization, specialist subject, and innovation.
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5. Read Expert Commentary on Universities
Expert commentary comprises the articles that are compiled by the people who have complete knowledge about higher education and are in a position to offer advice on future developments. There are career counselors too for the same.
6. Financial Aspect
You must consider the financial viability of selecting an education option. Other than the fees you pay for the course that you wish to pursue there are other expenses that you would need to meet like lodging, transport, food, and others. In India, big cities like Bengaluru and Pune have a range of options to choose from. While students may opt to stay in flats or share them, the student hostel in Pune makes for a great option too.
Conclusion
With proper research, you’ll be able to find out the issues that might alter your choice of university. Follow the above-said pointers to make an informed choice.