It seems like as soon as you enter into Grade 11, questions such as “what are you thinking about for university?” and “what do you want to do in the future?” start popping up. As a Grade 12 student, these questions slowly morph from “where are you applying?” in September/October, to “HAVE YOU HEARD BACK FROM *Insert School Name* YET?1!/!” and “WHY HAVEN’T I BEEN ACCEPTED YET I’M A FAILURE AND AM NOT GOING TO GO TO UNIVERSITY” closer to around now. While these are just musings of insecure high schools students (hopefully), making the choice of where to go is not so simple. There are many things to consider and it doesn’t just start in Grade 12. As someone currently entangled in the vague process of endless applications, here are a couple of things I have learned from the process that have helped me come to a conclusion, as well as some things that I wish I had done.
Consider Distance
While it is important to attend a post-secondary institution that excels in your interested field of study, you also have to place an emphasis on the environment you are going to be in for the next 4 years. If you are uncomfortable with the prospect of being separated from family, forcing yourself to go to school across the country for the program might not end up being worth it.
Consider Location
Every city has a unique climate, culture, and its advantages and disadvantages. It might also affect potential job opportunities and prospects in your field, and is what you will be immersed in in your downtime. It’s important to choose a location where you will enjoy living, and somewhere with opportunities for potential jobs and to expand on your interests.
Consider Cost
This one is an obvious one. While everyone would like to apply to universities abroad, sometimes the cost is not worth it for a simple undergraduate degree. The increasing sentiment across applying students has been to save on their undergraduate degree, and invest in a post-graduate program instead, which ultimately matters more. However, in the end, the choice is your’s to gauge whether paying more for your education early on will be of considerable benefit to you. Think ahead when applying and save money by avoiding applying for universities you have no interest in going to and only apply to a couple you are invested in.
Consider Program
As you’ve probably discovered by now, your experience and success in classes depends largely on the teacher at the front of the room. That’s why the quality of certain programs will differ from school to school. While no one expects you to know which professors you are trying to study under for your bachelors degree (with the exception of performing arts), it’s important to take into consideration the strength of the institution for your major. It is the reason why Harvard is known for law and Waterloo known for computer sciences.
Consider Atmosphere
I’ve talked to enough people at this point to know that each university (even within universities!) has a different vibe and atmosphere, and the only way really to know what that is like and if you will feel at home there is by visiting the campus. I highly recommend taking some time out of your Grade 11 or early Grade 12 year to tour a couple of institutions you have been flirting with and getting to know the area before committing. This is definitely not a viable choice for everybody, however, and the next best thing would be to talk to a friend (or any non-recruiter) about their experience.