The Ultimate Guide to Choosing the Right College

09 January,2023  |  By Brainwonders

After completing class 12th, every student faces a tough question about selecting a college that will help them prosper in their desired fields along with lucrative job opportunities.

Choosing a college will be one of the biggest decisions in your life. Once you take the plunge into higher education, you must decide which college is right for you. College is a huge investment of time and money, so choosing the right college is essential in meeting your personal, financial, and professional goals.

Some students spend months deciding on the best options, while others select their universities on a whim or under the influence of their parents, or they follow their friends. Either way, you need to make sure you are satisfied with your decision since you'll spend your next three years within the campus you selected.

Hence Brainwonders has listed seven life-saving Mantras that will help you choose the apt college.

Make Sure You Have Chosen The Right Subject:

The main concern before selecting a college is selecting a subject you want to study and have an in-depth knowledge of. Because you'll spend your next three years studying and mastering that subject, you'll get jobs related to the subject you chose. This makes it necessary to choose your subjects carefully. After all, you do not want to study hard to become a mathematician after pursuing MBBS.

 Imagine your colleges as Ice cream flavours.

Clear out your mind and understand what is important for you and what you want to become. Then find out which colleges will help you achieve your desired goals.

Divide the colleges into three categories based on your insight. Your chocolate colleges are not just your top-choice ones but also those that are most difficult to get into.

Your vanilla colleges are the ones with reasonable chances of getting into and where you would be happy to be. Your strawberry colleges are your “safety colleges”—those that you will definitely get into.

Although there is no absolute rule, it’s always recommended to also try a few different flavours (colleges). This ensures that you’re hitting for your fullest potential while guaranteeing that you’ll be getting into the college of your choice.

You can also divide colleges into: reach, target, and safety colleges to ensure you are submitting applications to a balanced mix of institutions.

Recommended Read: Best career options in India

Keep an Open Mind

Although it’s good to have some ideas in mind about what sort of colleges will be right for you, stay open to all the possibilities at the beginning of your search.

Challenge your assumptions and comfort zone about what will work for you. For example, “you may think you’re not able to thrive in a large institution because you came from a small high school, but … you may actually do better in that type of setting,”

But, don’t limit your search for the right college.

Do your research.

Once you have listed your preferred colleges, it’s time to do some research. Learn more about your colleges by referring to the brochures, websites and the list of offers they provide. Also check the geographical location of your preferred college and the climate conditions in that area. 

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No matter how strong your college is academically, if you dislike the social scene, you won’t be happy there. Be sure to consider the “big picture”. Make sure you also list down the academic courses provided by the college. Note down your questions and get answers by:

• Talking to your school counsellor or teachers
• Contacting college admission officials
• Asking admission officials to recommend current students or recent graduates to talk to
• Visiting college campuses
• Comparing the colleges and ranking them according to your wants and needs.
• Eliminating the colleges which don't meet your standards.
• Compare the fees and check for financial aids. 
• Weigh the pros and cons of your selected college with other colleges in the list.
• Also check if the college is accredited by NAAC and have a suitable ranking for the chosen course.
• The college must have the resources and support systems which are needed by every student during tough times, such as a dispensary at the time of sickness, counsellors to help them cope with the pressure, and teachers to solve their academic doubts.

Comprehend your inborn potentials

During your search, keep asking yourself questions about your preferences and goals. It often happens that your interests do not match your abilities.

Hence taking aptitude, IQ or Brainwonders’ DMIT tests and an effective career counselling becomes a necessity to find a balance between your abilities and your interests. These tests are essential once you pass out your SSC and HSC boards.

You’re changing throughout high school and so may your answers in the search process.

Career Services

Having an active and supportive career service office is essential. College can open your eyes to careers you never knew existed, and the career service centre can be instrumental in preparing you for your professional life after graduation.

Career services include interview preparation, counselling,  resume reviews,  job placement support, and much more. This would help you give a jump start to your career.

Recommended Read: Importance of Career Counselling

Internships and Hands-on Opportunities

For many people, the most exciting part of a college education is applying their theoretical knowledge practically for the experience. Many programs will incorporate hands-on training into the curriculum through simulated lab work, a practicum or an internship.

Although you can find your own internship with a little initiative, it is worthwhile to consider schools that provide you with direct placement into a position.

Find out about the Student Accommodation:

Starting a university means leaving your family and friends to settle in an unknown place to create the life you want. Therefore, knowing the type of accommodation facilities your university provides is essential. Learn all the basic life skills such as cooking, cleaning, washing clothes, etc.

Verdict…

As you explore colleges, you’ll discover that some factors are not as important to you as others. In fact, the whole point of going through the process outlined in this guide is to discover which aspects of college life will determine your focus as you research.

Ultimately, you want to pick colleges that meet your desires. As you do your detective work, keep in mind that your college education is one of the most important investments you will ever make in your future and it’s worth spending the time to make sure you make the right decision. You can also check the information provided by the universities to understand your likelihood of getting into the campus.