Part 2: How to Decide on a Post-Secondary Institution 

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Helen
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Hello, and welcome to Part 2–deciding on a post-secondary institution! This is a 2-part series–Part 1 was on Tips on Picking a Post-secondary Program. To preface, there are many different paths you can take after high school – including apprenticeships, studying abroad, and more – this blog post will only be covering one of those paths. For the content of this blog post, I’m exploring factors to consider when picking a post-secondary institution. Please enjoy!

Factors to Consider:

  1. Cost

    1. Tuition, fees, textbooks, residence, living expenses on food, clothing, entertainment, wifi, etc. 
    2. Tip: Use budget calculators to help you plan
      1. Student Budget Calculator | CIBC
      2. Student Budget Calculator | TD Canada Trust
      3. Personal budget calculators – UNI Financial Cooperation
    3. Is residence guaranteed in your first year?
    4. Are there financial aid options?
    5. What scholarships and bursaries can you apply for? 

  2. Career

    1. What would you like to do after getting a degree– working, Masters degree, programs?
    2. Does this institution offer programs you want to study? What are the quality of these programs?
    3. Does this institution offer research facilities, prestigious sports teams, extensive libraries, etc.? Are you interested in what they offer?

  3. Admission Requirements and Graduation Rates

    1. What grades are needed to apply to this institution? 
    2. What are the graduation rates for this institution? 
    3. What are the demographics?
    4. Helpful websites to answer these questions: 
      1. College Board
      2. Appily.com

  4. Campus Environment:

    1. Although the career path and degree that you get is important, so is the environment you spend your time in. Consider the following: 
    2. What is the city like around campus?
    3. Consider the extracurricular activities that are available – sports, clubs, student council, etc. 
    4. What is the size of the school? Do you have a preference?
    5. Are their resources and support systems for your mental and physical health? Will these resources actually help you?

  5. Miscellaneous: 

    1. How far is the university from home? Does this factor into your decision?
    2. Ask students who have attended the institution about their experiences– what would they recommend and what’s it like.
    3. Talk with friends, family, guidance counselors to get different opinions 

To end off this post, a reminder that choosing a post-secondary institution can be a long process, but an important one. It’s a decision that needs to be considered from all angles – so take the time and effort to research and learn about your options. Regardless of what others think or do, this is a decision that should be made out of your best interest and what you want. As always, thank you for reading and have a great day!

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