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I ask students to think about their preferences and also consider their parents’ preferences in terms of choosing a college or university. There are several preferences you need to think about.
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The first and probably the most important one is location. It’s not the best thing to apply to several different countries. I think you should narrow it down to one country or two countries because there are so many colleges and universities out there with so many different kinds of curriculum.
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You also have to think about whether you want to go to a big city, or a college town and also think about the weather. Don’t discount the weather. If you’re from a warm climate you need to consider if you can live in a few feet of snow.
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Second, think about the program. I’ve had a lot of students who applied to colleges and universities who don’t even offer the major they’re looking for. Find the program you are looking for, find the schools that offer it and find out what the quality of that program is.
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Third, think about the size of the school. I don’t just mean the size of the campus, I mean the number of students that attend. In the states, it could be anywhere from seven hundred (700) to tens of thousands of students.
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You need to think about the appropriate level of difficulty of the university. If you are an average student and even if you get into an elite university, it may not be the best thing for you to go there because it’s going to be so difficult.
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Think about cost. That doesn’t mean to shy away from colleges and universities with big price tags, it just means you need to have a variety. Often times the schools that are more expensive will offer more financial aid. You should definitely also apply to schools that are less expensive that as well, if cost is an issue.
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Once students have figured out their preferences, they should start researching. The internet is probably the best tool out there right now and websites like GoSwoop and College Board are very helpful in narrowing down your choices. If you can speak with students who have recently study abroad or who have recently applied – I think that’s very helpful. a
There are a lot of great books out there, my favorite is the Fisk Guide. It gives a synopsis of three hundred (300) colleges and universities in the states. You need to do what you can to get a feel for each college and university so that you can narrow it down to a handful. a
And finally, if you’re able, the best way to find the college or university that is the rightt fit for you is to visit their campuses. If you can get on to a university or college campus, see what it’s really like, maybe visit a class, talk to some students, see a dorm room, that’s really the best way to narrow down your options.
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