Does anyone have a list of reasons you should choose a unniversity?

Question

I want to look at a lot of different unniversities and want to know on what basis I should choose to apply to any of them.

Answer 1

you need to consider the following when applying to different universities:
1) the types of courses you want to do- limit this to say 2 or 3
2) look at the entry requirements. if you're a mature student, they would under normal circumstances accept you without them, just as long you have some evidence that you can do the course and plus they can find out whether the course is right for you
3) the travel arrangements. will you be able to travel to your university? is the distance too far or will you be able to work round it? this is something you have to consider
4) when you apply for courses, do not choose them because the title of the degree sounds interesting. choose something that you're good at and of which will enable you to showcase your talent, abilities, knowledge and skills
5) a little tip: if you're still stuck on what course to do. take a sheet of paper and divide into 4 rows. on one row write what you're interests are, the second row what skills you have, the third row what you're good at and the fourth what you're not so good at. fill each section in
6) the university ranking in newspapers such as the guardian for example do not tell the full story. just because a university is number 87 or whatever does not mean its crap. if i were you i'd therefore ignore it because it is irrelevant.
7) look at the universities websites online and if you can order the prospectus's. they each have their own titles of degrees, a course outline, modules and the work you'd be covering in the modules, entry requirements etc
8) the cost of the course- most universities will now charge the maximum of £3,000 a year. though at my university thames valley, students for example are exempt from this scheme.
9) living costs is another issue- will you be living with parents or at the university halls of residence? likewise, water, electricity phone bills, travel, food, book expenses etc

these are just some of the few you should consider. take your time, analyse each one and make the right choice that suits you. if you still need further guidance have a talk with the careers advisor about your options

best of luck!

Answer 2

There are a couple of parts to this. You want to check out academic stuff, student life, and location.

In terms of academics--do you want big classes or small? Most places will tell you what size a normal class is. Most freshman intro classes are large anyways but some colleges have smaller sizes as you get into the upper level classes. Make sure the school has the major you want--or, if you are undecided, make sure they have a range of things that you are interested in. Check to see if the classes are taught by professors or TAs.

In terms of student life, you want to check out if there is anything going on on campus. Some people prefer a rowdier college experience, while others prefer quiet. Also check and see if there are stores nearby--if you dont have a car there is nothing like being stuck at school with no soap or shampoo until you can get a ride or walk 10 miles to the nearest store.

Do you want to be in a city or in the woods somewhere? the adjustment experience will be different with either. Check out webpages to see.

I would suggest visiting anyplace you apply because you will only know when you visit if you like the atmosphere of the place. good lck

Answer 3

You should never choose the university before you choose the subject that you wish to study. Choose the course you want to do e.g. physics then choose the university that does the best course i.e. the one which you think you will enjoy the best. I am a university student at the moment and I have found that all of my friends who have chosen a university and not the subject/course are unhappy there and failing hteir course as a result where as the ones that are doing the courses that they wanted to do are happy, having fun and doing well.

As for which university to choose once you have done this first look at the courses they are offering, however do bear in mind the grades they require since there is no point in applying for a course that you will not get onto.

Jez

Answer 4

I would choose a university based on what career goal I had in mind. What may be a great university for some careers would be a poor choice for others. I would also consider the cost of attending any university in mind. Is any additional cost justified by what the university is providing. You can spend a lot of money going to school and end up with an unmarketable degree and a lot of debt to pay off unless you are financially well off. Fix a goal in mind in terms of career and then use any potential school as a tool to get there.

Answer 5

There is no correct answer!

Do you want to choose a university based on the prestige of its name, reputation and its long history eg. Oxford and Cambridge?
(bearing in mind that many of the dons may be stuck in the past.)

Do you want to choose a university that tends to have more modern ideas? Some ex-polytechnics, redbrick universities and 60s campus universities may tend to be more up to date than the older universities in that respect.

Do you want the place with the best social life? That's a matter of opinion but big or medium sized cities tend to be better than small ones for that.

And finally, are you really sure you want to go to university if you don't know the reasons why you would want to go? It's very important that you visit the place, no matter how highly regarded it is, to check that it suits your personality.

Answer 6

it doesn't matter what university you go to; it's a misconception to believe that employers look at where you studied. They just want to make sure that you have a good degree in a "good" subject!

You should choose a university based on where you would be happy to spend the next 3 years (and perhaps the most important 3 years) of your life!

Answer 7

basically becouse they offer the best programme for the degree you want to study and becouse you like the focus or approach to your chosen subject.
perhaps the university is very reknowned, that helps too.
has extra activities and courses,
has good facilities.
can help you build up a usefull network to find a good job when you finiah etc,, if none of theese looks apealing then go for the one with the cutest young felas

Answer 8

You should look at average salary levels as this will have a direct connection to the amount of rent you will be expected to pay. Crime rates are another thing to consider. Apart from that it depends what you want from your time at university. Pubs and nightlife are always handy! I would advise going to a bigger city where students are more accepted also.