Finding institutions that are a good match for you academically and socially is one of the most crucial steps in the college admissions process. Before you add any schools to your list, thoroughly research a balanced list of target, reach, and safety schools. This study will not only assist you in narrowing down your options right now, but it will also give you the ability to customise your applications and explain to the admissions committee why you want to attend that particular school.
Here is how you could go about researching schools for higher education:
1. Consider academics
First and foremost, concentrate on what you will learn in the classroom, since that is ultimately why you are attending college. Make sure to visit the department’s website and learn about the courses it offers and the professors who teach those subjects if you already know what you want to study there.
2. Consider social factors
Make a list of inquiries on accommodation and dining, clubs and activities, social life, and the neighborhood. You will be spending a significant amount of time over here. Know your college communities, clubs, and meal options. These all contribute to your mental health, and staying healthy mentally comes before anything else.
3. Use numbers, but do not dwell on them
Although admissions statistics can be used to gauge a school’s reachability, likelihood, or both, these figures are sometimes unreliable when assessing whether a college is a suitable fit for an individual student. Instead, you might wish to concentrate on retention rates, diversity, housing, and school size and location.
4. Use multiple sources
College information is widely available and can be found in a variety of places, including university websites, publications, newspapers, current and former students and alumni, and college rankings. When conducting research, you shouldn’t rely on just one source. Instead, become as familiar with as many sources as you can to develop a critical and comprehensive awareness of the information and decision-making options available to you. Undoubtedly, visiting a school’s campus is one of the best ways to learn more about it.
How can Rostrum Education help?
At Rostrum, our team of country and course specific counsellors helps you shortlist universities. We take into account your preferences and help you obtain knowledge about specific institutions. We also help you connect with our past students in various universities so that you can get to know about first hand experiences. Contact us for a free consultation today!
