While determining an ideal career path is still the biggest challenge for young minds, selecting the right university is no less than a riddle. The promising taglines and visions of different universities can easily manipulate young minds. In such time, we believe that students deserve some unbiased tips which they should keep in mind while selecting the best college for themselves.

The first and most important piece of advice for students is to prioritize the course they want to study, not the reputation of the university. It is because, in the end, the knowledge and skills gained through the course are going to help you majorly. The reputation of the university helps you to land dream jobs. Moreover, I have listed some more important factors which you should consider while selecting the best university for yourself. 

1. International and National rankings

Rankings are good indicators of the university’s reputation and recognition at international and national levels. However, you cannot totally rely upon them for finalizing your university. For instance, a university might be in first or second position but that doesn’t imply that it stands first in teaching standards, placements, etc necessarily. In short, you should see because of which aspect, a university is at the top position and is that important to you? 

2. Course Content 

It is the most important factor to determine which university is best for you. Always read the detailed course structure as it will make you aware of what you are going to learn in the program. If it contains major topics not relevant for your career prospects, then you shouldn’t go with that university. Course content is easily available on the university’s website. 

3. Extra offerings 

After checking the rankings and course content, if the latter ones are good, you should check the extra offerings. Here, I am referring to internship opportunities, work placements, live projects, etc as extra offerings. At this point, these experiences are certainly crucial for global exposure and add greater significance to your CV. A degree with these elements can become a key to great career opportunities. 

4. Location and Campus

The location of the university also plays an influential role as you have to spend a major part of your life there. You are going to spend your major time on the campus, that is why it is worth assessing what is available on campus. Many universities provide virtual campus tours also. Explore the nearby areas and the facilities. Make a checklist and see if everything is suitable for you. 

5. Accommodation and food

Staying away from family is an emotional challenge and when your new home is not comfortable, it makes you hate everything around you. Finding accommodation that makes you comfortable is a tedious task. Enquire about the accommodation options near your university. Moreover, meal planning is also important. If you are vegetarian, then see if there are appropriate vegetarian food sources there. Also, many students prefer home-cooked meal sources. You can seek options and check what’s best for you. 

6. Societies and Extracurriculars

Apart from classroom lectures, everyone has a social life. Being a student, you have so many domains to explore. College life acquaints students with their hidden talents through societies and extracurriculars. Check how many clubs and societies the university has. If you are a sports enthusiast, you can look for a sports club. Nowadays, mentioning your participation in extracurricular activities in the resume is also significant as companies want to recruit all-rounders. 

7. Financial Obligations

The last but crucial factor driving all other aspects is the financial requirements. The cost of education abroad is exceptionally high these days due to the surge in demand. Generally, students decide to study abroad after calculation and comparison of the cost with their budget. I suggest you to recalculate everything after shortlisting some universities because earlier you were estimating from approximate amounts. But now, you have shortlisted some of them so you can get the information about the specific costs. Moreover, try to pen on all available options for arranging the finance. 

Apart from these tips and suggestions, I have a very simple solution for you. Just download the Edumpus app from the play store and you can select the best one from 15 countries, with more than 500 universities, and above 50,000 courses. The app has so many filters which will enable you to customize your search according to your needs. Happy searching!