Going to university can be an important milestone in a lot of people’s lives. That’s why it is important to think carefully about how to choose which university is right for you.
For a lot of people, this can involve visiting the city and campus of the universities your considering.
But what if you are an international student moving to study abroad? How can you appropriately pick your university if you can’t visit beforehand?
If this sounds is your situation, then follow our tips on how to choose a university which suits you, even if you can’t visit!
1. Look at the university’s rankings
University rankings can help you make your difficult decision. Rankings cover a lot of categories, like teaching effectiveness and student satisfaction so they can give you a great rundown of what the university is like.
You can also use them to see how highly ranked a university is for certain subjects. So, if you’re interested in studying Business, you can find out which universities are the best for Marketing.
2. Request prospectuses
Prospectuses are useful for helping future students choose their university, and will normally include information like student course listings, testimonials, and photos of the facilities and campus.
Why not make a list of features that your ideal university would have before you look through the prospectuses? You may want to go to a university that has great sports facilities, a particular subject offering, or is close to the city centre.
Think about what is important to you. Remember, you could be living and studying in this place for up to 4 years, or more, so don’t rush into your decision!
After comparing prospectuses, look through your notes and see how closely each university match your requirements. If one university prospectus matches more requirements than another, then this might be the university that’s right for you.
3. Use social media
Browsing a university’s Facebook, Instagram and Twitter pages is a great way to see what life is like there.
You can also use these channels to post comments and ask questions, so you’ll get even more information.
4. Use Google Street View
You can get a sense of what it would be like to live in the city you might be considering by using Google Street View. Simply find the address of the university and campus you’re interested in and explore the area from a street view.
Have a look back at the list of important things you’ve made and think about what matters to you.
5. Meet an agent
Kaplan Pathways’ university preparation courses are designed to qualify and help prepare international students for entry into one of their partner universities.
If you are interested in a preparation course like this, then you can arrange a meeting with an agent in your home country or region. They will be able to give you more information and advice about what university to choose.
So, that’s it! These are our top tips for how to choose a university even if you can’t visit beforehand
