Tens of Millions of students, including millions from various international countries, have applied for college admissions for Fall 2019 in hundreds of top universities in the USA, Canada, UK, Australia, Germany, France, Singapore and many other countries around the world. Over the next few weeks, the students will be getting their admission results and they will have to start deciding where to join in the fall of 2019. It is never an easy decision unless the student has got into their dream university. Here are a few things to consider when deciding on which college to join.
- Total Cost of Studies – Unless you have unlimited funds and the cost does not matter, the cost of studying at the college should be an important consideration in your decision. This is not the only factor in your decision but can make a difference between $50,000-$100,000 over 4 years of undergraduate college. It is key to look at the total cost of studies, including room, board, and meals per year, including any scholarships, opportunity to work on and off-campus, and not just only fees. The total cost of education is a big factor why many students in the USA decide to select in-state colleges and universities or spend two years in community college before transferring to a 4-year public university. International students should also evaluate their options across all the countries and opportunities before making a decision.
- Reputation of the college and the program – This is another very important factor, just like the cost of education, in your decision. Look at the repetitional score of the college and the program. Some colleges may have a good global brand (e.g. Ivy Leagues) but they may not be the best college for some programs e.g. engineering, computer science etc. Similarly, Liberal Arts students may decide to join one of the highly ranked liberal arts colleges than going to a large public university known for engineering or business.
- Location, Size, and Job opportunity – This is often an overlooked criterion by many students, especially by students from International countries. If someone is interested in living in the USA, it is better to apply and study in a US college than selecting a Canadian, Australian or a UK college. It is far easier to find a job in the local country or local region than study in one country and look for a job somewhere else. This is one of the main reason for us to guide International students to select colleges in California, Texas, Northeast instead of colleges in other parts of the USA. This is also a reason for us to have International students look at the USA colleges instead of colleges in other countries such as Australia etc. where the opportunities for employment may be less than the USA. Another factor to evaluate is the size of the college and if it suits a student’s preference. Some students prefer a larger college campus and some prefer a smaller class size that feels like a home.
- Diversity, Community, and Family– Living outside the home for the first time is never easy. Hence, it is always good to look at the diversity of the college community, friends and family relationships. It is always easy to adjust to a new place if you know other students or if there is diversity in the community.
Just remember there is never a right answer or wrong answer. If you end up joining a college that you do not enjoy after a year, there is always an opportunity to transfer to another college.
If you want to discuss a decision, contact the team at Stoodnt. Good Luck!
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