5 Steps to Choosing the Right College

6 mins read29.5K Views 33 Comments
Rahul
Rahul Singha
Study Abroad Expert
Updated on Nov 24, 2022 17:23 IST

Enrolling into a college and studying for a degree abroad can take anything between one to four years, depending on the university and duration of the entire course and it is sure going to be an expensive affair. Hence, it is extremely important for students and parents alike to choose the right college to make the investment worthwhile and the experience life-changing. With the vast number of universities offering multiple course options to choose from, this is often perceived as a tedious and exhaustive task to perform. To make this simple and effort worthwhile, we have enlisted a set of parameters, which would help candidates weed out the unnecessary and choose from the most worthwhile of institutions for higher education.

Also Read: Top Universities Abroad

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How to choose the right college to study abroad?

The points given below should be remembered while choosing the right college to study abroad.

Shortlist the college

While shortlisting the college, consider the location, majors and programs offered, people on campus, and the opportunities available outside your classroom. Then, take time to make your own rankings and weigh the pros and cons of a particular college. Make sure your educational needs are being met while taking the decision to study in a particular college. All colleges require candidates to appear for an eligibility test, such as SAT/ IELTS/ TOEFL/ GMAT/ GRE to be considered for admission. Hence, it is extremely important for the student to have his / her goal in mind and know what he / she really wants from studying abroad. It is a one-way ticket and there is no coming back halfway. It is important for the candidate to understand that studying abroad for a degree is a huge commitment and he would have to go through the entire process. There is no quitting half way.

Also Read: Great Questions to Ask Yourself for Creating a Strong Student Profile

Course Curriculum

This is another important area that determines the college of study for candidates looking to travel abroad for higher education. Candidates should be clear about the course that he would like to pursue and choose the colleges offering the same. Candidates should go through the available programmes on the official website of the university to be doubly sure. He should also verify the language of study and should be an expert in the field. Other important information to keep in mind would be the admission procedure; application start and end dates; campus life; extracurricular activities; accommodation options; the size of the college and above all the ranking of the institute and the course on a global platform. Candidates should always refer to unbiased college and course rankings to see where their choice of college is placed. Candidates should also join internet forums and get in touch with student counselors who could provide them with more information on the same.

Also Read: How should students shortlist colleges & look beyond rankings

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Budget

Another important aspect of zeroing in on the right college would be knowing the amount of money required as tuition fee for the particular course in a particular college. Most official websites of colleges provide a detailed breakup of the tuition fee required for admission on a yearly basis. Students are advised to select colleges that fit their budget. Students can apply for an Education Loan through various banking and non-banking financial institutions that would help them with the tuition fee for higher education. Students who excel in education could also opt for the numerous scholarships and grants that are available on the official website of colleges to ease their financial pressure. It is always important for a candidate to choose the college that provides the maximum return on investment.

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Location

This is another important deciding factor, as a part of your budget would also be allocated to the living expenses that are directly affected by the location of choice. It is important for students to keep the location, security, climate, and ease of transportation in mind before deciding on the location as these elements would affect them on a daily basis. While the living costs of some countries are higher than others, however, how much you actually spend every month depends on the lifestyle of every student. For example, a student staying in the metropolitan part of the country would pay a higher rent than a student staying in the suburban areas. The weather is another important factor as extremely cold countries could make living very difficult for Indians traveling for the first time as major parts of India enjoy tropical climate all-round the year. Safety and security, easy visa facilitation and duration of stay after the course are over are major factors that should be carefully weighed before finally choosing the location of study.

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Preference and Social Ties

Past work experiences and extracurricular knowledge also shape one's preferences for deciding on the right college. A lot of times, personal preferences of having family or relatives residing in a particular country take precedence in choosing the right college for an education. This is misleading and should be avoided. Course preferences, college ranking, tuition and living expenses should be the determining factors in choosing the right college for a candidate wanting to travel abroad for higher education.

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FAQs

Q. What are the steps involved to choose the right college?

A. To find the right college, first of all, do some research about the colleges in which you want to take admission. Think about the location, majors and programs, opportunities available outside of classroom, etc. Then, rank your priorities as per the pros and cons of a particular college. Also, keep in mind your budget. For this, you have to check the tuition fee of the college. You can also investigate about the job connections of that particular college.

Q. List some factors that one should consider in order to choose the right college.

A. The top factors in deciding the right college to study are location and distance from home, class size, tuition fee, majors and minors, athletics and extra-curricular activities, campus life, safety, academic support and career services, and internship opportunities.

Q. What 4 major factors you should consider while finding the right college fit?

A. The 4 major factors that you should consider while finding the right college are campus setting, weather, size of the campus, and extra-curricular activities.

Q. How do I know if I have selected the right college or not?

A. It is the right college if it matches you academically, if it is affordable for you and your family, if it will help you in achieving your life goals. Furthermore, you can also take into account the campus diversity, sports, and distance from home into account.

Q. What do students look for in college while taking admission?

A. While taking admission, one should look for affordability, availability of desired program, career outcomes / job opportunities, reputation / academic quality, proximity to home, etc.
About the Author
Rahul Singha
Study Abroad Expert

With over 8 years of experience in overseas education, Rahul Singha has been previously associated with prominent education houses. He is also responsible for keeping a sharp eye on education policies of major study... Read Full Bio

Comments

(33)

A

Anya Ravi

4 weeks ago

i am anya . I want to pursue BiOMEDiCAL SCiENCES but I do not know WHiCH UNiVERSiTY to apply for and WHiCH degree

Reply to Anya Ravi

R

Rahul SinghaStudy Abroad Expert

a week ago

Hello Anya. You can get in touch with our Shiksha Study Abroad counsellors. They will be more than happy to assist you with your university search based on your academic background and future plans. Request a call back here: https://www.shiksha.com/studyabroad/apply

can someone that has ordinary secondary school results applied

Reply to Oyerinde olaoluwa samuel

R

Rahul SinghaStudy Abroad Expert

a month ago

Hello Oyerinde. Can you please elaborate on your query for me to be able to assist you better? I am not sure what you mean by 'ordinary secondary school results.' You can also get in touch with our Shiksha Study Abroad counsellors for assistance with university applications here: https://www.shiksha

...more

H

Harshit Kumar

4 months ago

Does CBSE improvement exam cause problem in college applications for US and Canada?

Reply to Harshit Kumar

R

Rahul SinghaStudy Abroad Expert

a month ago

Hello Harshit. Improvement exams should not be a major concern during your US / Canada college applications. You can get in touch with our Shiksha Study Abroad counsellors for assistance with university applications here: https://www.shiksha.com/studyabroad/apply

S

Sathwik Chandra

10 months ago

hello, my name is sathwik I am a fine art student I want to do my master's in filmmaking but don't know which country and course is suitable for my financial status.

Reply to Sathwik Chandra

R

Rahul SinghaStudy Abroad Expert

9 months ago

Hello Sathwik. You can get in touch with our Shiksha Study Abroad Counsellors: https://studyabroad.shiksha.com/apply They will be happy to assist you with your university admissions.

i have done my bachelors in chemical engineering can i change the course to computer science after going there and how can i choose those colleges

Reply to kompalli sruthi

R

Rahul SinghaStudy Abroad Expert

a year ago

Hello Kompalli. You will have to select your study abroad location/universities offering you your preferred course of study. You will also be required to meet the admission requirements established by the university. the same would be available on the official website of the university and go ahead

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