Five Mistakes to Avoid when Choosing a College/University

If your primary source of information is the internet, a relative or a friend when choosing a school and program, then you are right. The process will is simple. Anyone can do it.   When it comes to choosing the right school and program, this will require objective research, professional qualified guidance and support. Throughout the years working as an educational consultant placing students in college and/or university, there are critical steps that required to ensure successful enrollment and completion. Here are five common mistakes to avoid when identifying and selecting programs and/or schools.

Relying solely on information on an institution's website - while information on a school's website will provide an overview of the school, the program of interest, the faculty, school amenities etc., some of the information may be dated. For example, tuition fees for 2018, may not be set as yet and therefore, some fees are from the previous academic year.  Another example, program name changes or program closures may occur during an academic year and may not always be reflected on the website. Therefore, it is important to follow up a visit to the website with an email or a call to the institution or even requested an information package to be posted to you.

Relying only on the name of the program - Computer Science at University A may not be the same as Computer Science at University B. For example, some computer science programs may lean towards software development while others may lean towards networking.  A program is a reflection of an institution's faculty, goals and core mission and ideology. Therefore, it is important to read the course outline and course outcomes. This is to ensure that the program covers key topics and areas that meet with your interests and overall objectives. More importantly, it is critical to check for the admission requirements as this is a key indicator as to whether a program is more science or arts based; have flexible or very selective admissions procedures etc. ​

Relying on the choices of friends or relatives -  "What is good for the goose is not necessarily good for the gander", is a saying that I often heard from my grandmother during my childhood. In other words, what worked for another person doesn't mean that it will work out the same for you. This same principal can be applied when choosing a program and a school, particularly in the case of the latter. Many times, I have come across parents and students who have selected a school because they knew someone who attended. This immediately limits their options as they are often forced to select a program based on what is available at that particular school.  Let's use the Computer Science example in the point 2:  Zaria's cousin attended University A and therefore, Zaria is interested in University A. Zaria's parents also feel comfortable with University A, based on the fact that a family member attended. However, Computer Science at University A does not meet with Zaria's interests and objectives, as it primarily based on networking and Zara is interested in software development. Despite this knowledge, both Zaria and her parents decides to still apply to the school and program. The answer is simple, this is not the right school nor program for Zaria. It is therefore important to explore other options even if a family member never attended.

​Relying on online reviews -  There are online forums where comments about students' experiences at schools are viewed by prospective students. Many times, have students and/parents emailed me links to online sites where there are reviews about schools they are considering.  Typically, attention is immediately drawn to the negative experiences, which often raises further queries from prospective students and parents. Online review sites are very subjective and should not be used as a basis in determining whether you select a school or program.  It is best to seek advice guidance from a qualified professional who is familiar with the schools and can provide objective advice.

​Relying on rankings - Harvard, MIT, UCLA, University of Toronto, Oxford University are all world-renowned famous universities.  Ranking systems can have a great influence in the decision-making process. While there is no official ranking system, there are some which are widely known and subscribed to. For example, US News Rankings, QS Rankings etc., are well-known rankings that are followed widely. This can create misconceptions about institutions not found on any rankings. Parents or prospective students often perceive them to be of a lower quality in comparison to those that are ranked.  This is not the case for many institutions. There are many factors which determines whether a school may or may not be associated with any rankings. Additionally, some of the factors or indicators employed by ranking systems may not always capture all the key factors which a student may base their college selection decision on.  This is not to suggest to you that rankings cannot be considered but it is important to keep an open mind.

Written By
Sheena Alleyne M.A
Higher Education Consultant
The Student Centre