If your career path includes a pit stop to "fuel up" on greater knowledge or training, one of the first things you will have to do is choose the school where you will make this stop. Choosing the right school, college, technical institute or university is not always easy. There are a lot of options open to you, and you will have to consider a lot of factors before making your final decision.
To help make the process a little easier, we've put together a list of questions to ask yourself. The answers you give should help you make your final choice.
Begin by considering your own interests and needs:
Get with the program. Is there a particular program you want to attend? If your chosen career goal requires you to attend a specific post-secondary program or hold a specific degree, diploma or certificate, this may help you narrow your options down immediately.
- What schools offer the program?
- Is the program the same length at all of these schools?
- How do the programs at each school differ?
- Are the entrance requirements the same?
- Do you meet the requirements?
Location, location, location.
- Is living at home or in the same city important, or are you able/willing to go to school in another community?
- If you are willing to move, is there a limit on how far?
- Is there a particular community or part of the country you have always wanted
to live in?
- What about the type of community? Would you like to live in a large city, or are you more comfortable in a smaller community?
When choosing a location, the wishes of family and friends may come into consideration. Your parents may want you to stay at home for a few more years (or maybe they think its time you finally get out of the house and give them some peace!). Or perhaps you want to go to the same college as all of your friends. While these may be legitimate considerations, they should not be overriding ones. Remember that while you want to listen to your parents (you do, don't you??) and be with your friends, it is your future that is at stake here. You have to look at the big picture, and do what you think will be best for you in the long run.
The bottom line. What can you afford?
When considering the cost of a post-secondary education, remember that while it may cost you a lot of money, it will also increase your earning potential. Investing in your education now may pay off in higher earnings in the future. Remember, too, that financial assistance may be available to help you pay for your education.
But even after considering the investment value of education and the possibility of financial assistance, cost may still be an important factor when choosing a school.
On the side. While your education is the most important consideration when choosing a school, there are other things you may find important when making your final choice. For many, college life is a time to explore new interests or to meet others who share the same interests. Check out the extra-curricular life at the schools you are considering. What clubs, groups, societies, and sports programs does the school offer? What is the social and cultural atmosphere like on campus?
Consider the institution
Get with the program, II. Does the institution offer the program or major which you want to study? Will you have to transfer to another school before you graduate? (A "yes" to this latter question should not necessarily eliminate the school. For example, there are many excellent two-year colleges that allow you to start your university education with them and then transfer to a larger university. However, it is important that you know this before entering the college, and that you know exactly where you will be able to finish up the degree, diploma or certificate you have started.)
One size doesn't fit all. Not everyone wants to attend the same size school. What size of school would you feel most comfortable at? Do you want to attend a small college, or are you interested in going to a larger institution?
Perhaps more important than size of the actual student body is the size of most of the classes. A small school usually means easier access to teaching and counselling, while larger schools tend to offer a greater diversity of activities and student backgrounds.
Making the grade. Before you let a school start grading your performance, you should grade its performance. What is the reputation of the school? Is the reputation of the program you want to take better, the same, or worse than the reputation of the school as a whole?
Be careful when trying to determine the reputation of the university or program. Different people will have different opinions about a school's value. While reputation is important, it is also very important to reach your own conclusions about the school and the program.
Most post-secondary institutions will have open houses, where you can take a look at the campus, find out more information about particular programs, and talk to students who are currently enrolled in the programs. Some institutions will have "Student for a Day" programs or something similar, where you can sit in on classes within your program of interest.
If the school you are considering is too far away for a personal visit, write the school and get a copy of their calendar and any other literature they would be willing to send you, such as admission and financial aid materials, and housing information. As well, they might be able to give you names of graduates who are living in your city and are willing to talk to you about the school.
Doing the job. Do graduates from the program you want to take find work easily? Do they find work quicker or slower than graduates from the same program at other universities? Job placement rates may be available for particular programs at a college, university or technical institute.
You may also want to check out what career and job placement services the post-secondary institution has. How vigorously does the school try to find jobs for its students once they graduate?
Show me the money. Does the institution offer some type of financial aid? The federal and provincial governments are a common source of financial assistance for your education. But the post-secondary institutions themselves can be another source of financial support. What type of scholarships, bursaries, or other aid do they provide and do you meet the qualifications to receive the aid?
The body beautiful. What is the makeup of the student body at the institution? Does the school have a religious affiliation? Is it important to you that it does or does not?
Campus life. Check out the campus.
- Where is it located?
- Are there a lot of accommodations close by or on the campus, or will you have to drive or ride to school?
- Is there good public transportation routes to the campus?
- What type of facilities are available on campus?
- What are the state of its library, computer labs, and science labs?
- What about recreational facilities, such as gymnasiums, swimming pools, outdoor sports facilities, theatres, etc.?
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