When you get all the offers from the Universities you must then choose which one you want to accept, this called “taking your final decision”. The date you must take this decision depends mostly on the country of destination and the university. The standard date for United Sates and Canada is 1 May. For United Kingdom depends on when they send you all the offers, but it typically May or June. For Ireland it is in August when the universities receive final grades from your school and for the rest of Europe depends on de country and whether the university runs in a rolling basis, but it usually 2/3 weeks after you receive your offer of admission.
The final decision is not always easy and straight forward. You must consider different factors when comparing each offer or university. Financial aspects are key, but there exist other factors to have in mind before taking this important decision. Please bear in mind that when you accept an offer, you must send a deposit fee to make the reservation at the destination university, so if you don’t want to spend so much money paying different fees, you better make a good choice from the beginning.
These are the main 10 tips we consider important when deciding which university to attend:
TIP 1: Compare programs/majors
You must compare the degrees you will be studying in the different universities and their reputation in ranking platforms such as QS World Ranking, Shanghai Ranking, Times Higher Education or US News Ranking among others. You should consider aspects such as:
- The major that best relates to your career choice
- Opportunities for job placement (Internships, OPT etc..)
- Search on LinkedIN and other social networks for alumni majored in similar degrees
TIP 2: Campus Spirit & Culture
Studies show that school spirit and academic achievement are closely related. The more a student feels motivated with school spirit and is involved on campus, the higher their academic achievement is. You should consider aspects such as:
- Read carefully which campus have you been admitted and investigate within the same university website and Social Media
- Consider cultural aspects of the destination country. It may affect your state of mind and academic performance
TIP 3: Campus Diversity
Education within a diverse setting prepares you to become good citizen in an increasingly complex society. You must search for the percentage of international students in each institution to gather an idea of diversity. You should consider aspects such as:
- Be aware of the demographics of certain areas in the United States and United Kingdom. Are you happy with that demographic?
- Large amount of students speaking your own language can limit your English language acquisition.
TIP 4: Campus Activities
College years are not only about studying, and you might be involved in other activities during your spare time. A good set of facilities near campus are key to combine academics and activities during the day. You should consider aspects such as:
- Search within the university website for the different types of activities offered to students: Sports, Clubs, Band, Fraternities & Sororities, Arts, Honors, etc.
- Search of other actives of your interest close to your residency.
TIP 5: Campus Housing
This is key when you make your final decision. You will be living several years on the place so you must be confortable and secured. University facilities may change from country to country. United States has more housing options compared to Europe where housing options are very limited and you might must secure an external apartment before final enrollment. You should consider aspects such as:
- Clear housing options for the entire degree
- Availability of apartments or other residences at walking distance
- Public transportation
- Where are you going to eat?
TIP 6: Location & Enrollment
There are different location types for universities: city, suburban or rural. Choose the one that fits your social profile. You should consider aspects such as:
- If the university is rural you might need to use a source of transportation, so look for public transportation options or the possibility to get a driver license
- Having an international airport close to the university might ease your logistics at the beginning and end of each semester
TIP 7: Campus Safety & Security
Campus security is a must and you should feel safe enough walking around the campus at any time. You should consider aspects such as:
- Search for security services such as: Vehicle patrols, Late night transportation/escort service, Emergency telephones, Lighted pathways/sidewalks, Controlled dormitory access
- The surroundings are also important so search for the crime rate locally and of the nearest city
TIP 8: Financial Fit
This is probably the most important factor when taking the final decision. You should not only consider the tuition costs but also housing, meals, books, health insurance, transportation and personal expenses. You should consider aspects such as:
- Don’t relay only on the admission scholarships, but also look for other types of scholarships once admitted
- Search for work study programs which allow you to earn money working part-time
- Make sure you can pay for the entire degree, not just the first year.
TIP 9: Post Graduate Success
Remember you go to college to find a job and start your future career, so investigate how the university will help you to achieve that. You should consider aspects such as:
- Choose an institution that offers research, internships, a year in industry or OPT.
- Search for the graduation rate and and how soon do graduates find employment
- Search for companies that most frequently hires students
TIP 10: Other key factos
There are other important factors to consider when making the final choice:
- Average alumni starting salary
- College Selectivity (more selective vs less selective)
- Admission percentage rate
- Class sizes
- Student-faculty ratio
- Most popular majors
- Average first-year retention rate
- Resource availability (labs, libraries, etc.)
In summary, there are several aspecto to consider before taking the final decision, but if we should highlight one of them, we suggest to visit the different campuses during school time. That will give you a real sense and perception of many of the aspects seen before.
At Five Lands International Education we have the best consultants to help you choose your best option for your future career. Visit our web or contact us through this contact form.
