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:
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Cost
- Tuition, fees, textbooks, residence, living expenses on food, clothing, entertainment, wifi, etc.
- Tip: Use budget calculators to help you plan
- Is residence guaranteed in your first year?
- Are there financial aid options?
- What scholarships and bursaries can you apply for?
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Career
- What would you like to do after getting a degree– working, Masters degree, programs?
- Does this institution offer programs you want to study? What are the quality of these programs?
- Does this institution offer research facilities, prestigious sports teams, extensive libraries, etc.? Are you interested in what they offer?
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Admission Requirements and Graduation Rates
- What grades are needed to apply to this institution?
- What are the graduation rates for this institution?
- What are the demographics?
- Helpful websites to answer these questions:
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Campus Environment:
- Although the career path and degree that you get is important, so is the environment you spend your time in. Consider the following:
- What is the city like around campus?
- Consider the extracurricular activities that are available – sports, clubs, student council, etc.
- What is the size of the school? Do you have a preference?
- Are their resources and support systems for your mental and physical health? Will these resources actually help you?
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Miscellaneous:
- How far is the university from home? Does this factor into your decision?
- Ask students who have attended the institution about their experiences– what would they recommend and what’s it like.
- 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!
