Choosing The Right University

Grade 11 and 12 are possibly the most stressful years during a high school career, because they are steps away from “the real world”. As a result your child is overwhelmed with a plethora of options, be it university, college, a gap year, or no post-secondary education at all.

Any road your child decides to take after high school will require much research, both for you and your child, in order to make sure that they keep as many doors open as possible. If pursuing post-secondary education it is important to research the program, the university itself, and to visit the campus.

Before applying to university, it is essential to note what courses are needed to graduate, and if the university requires work experience or a portfolio to demonstrate what the student is capable of.

Farah Mendlesohn, head of English at Anglia Ruskin University, establishes that it is important that your child’s major of study reflects their interests, as it will drive them forward in their studies and compel them to excel in their work: “there is a direct correlation between passion for subject and success.”

Of course there is considerable pressure on your child to choose the sensible option which will provide them with a successful future. Despite this, Chris Lucas, an admissions tutor for linguistics at SOAS, University of London suggests that “the sensible option might be a lot less sensible than you think,” and an interesting major may assist in standing out from competition in job interviews.

Once deciding the right program, there are still numerous decisions to be made before the application process.

Firstly, once there are a few universities in mind, note when the application deadline is! This is an incredibly crucial step in the university application process. It is also essential to research how much money the university requires for each semester. All universities are different, and some expect more money than others, especially on residence.

Course content is also critical when deciding the right university. Mendlesohn claims that it is important to look at the course outlines, as well as the teaching professors. This can allow the student to realize that the way universities teach a certain program is differentfrom school to school, and so it is important to research thembefore making a decision.

Making the right choice is incredibly overwhelming for high school students, says Michael Porter, science admissions tutor at the University of Bradford. He establishes that deciding what university is best is “one of the most difficult and important choices you will ever have to make”. He claims that “this can be a life-changing choice, so it is not a good idea simply to go with what your teacher, friends or family suggest”.

By: Shelly Koren