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Brenda: I would say avoid choosing your university solely by its “name” or “reputation” because there are so many more factors that contribute to your overall enjoyment in that university. Also keep in mind that you will be there for three years or more. Some examples of things to take into account while choosing your university include the sports program, how your degree is structured in the university, student satisfaction rates, graduate prospects, spare time activities, the location, etc. All of these factors play a part in your enjoyment of university, so it is undoubtedly important that you take them into account. Try to figure out what will work best for you while choosing your university, or else you might end up in one that you do not like.
Philip: The whole process is easier if you have a decent idea of what you want out of the school. In the US, there are so many places you can end up. When I was going through the process I found that I wasn’t focusing on the college process as much as I should have been. Starting those applications earlier is important. Have some sort of idea of what you want to say and definitely narrow it down as much as you can to focus on your top schools. Otherwise it can be overwhelming.
Francesca: It is important to be aware of what one really wants in terms of course direction, location, and campus/city experience. Personally my main criteria for university choices was to stay in London, in combination with what course I was interested in. Of course, there are some courses that may be better for Business, Management, and Information Technology outside of London, but because of the location I didn't consider them. Others may prioritize using the university ranking, or some may be intrigued by a very specific course at a university that isn't that known. They should still go for it as they have to enjoy what they will be doing for the next three years.
Manae: The first step is to define what you want to do. When I was six years old I began dancing and it has always been my dream. I knew that I wanted to dance at university so it was very easy to choose a university. My father helped to research universities and we attended lectures on open days. My advice is to go to open days and gather information.
Thomas: Do tours if you can because they are really helpful.
Alyssa: I would say it is very important to tour the school, because there is only so much you can learn about a school online or by word of mouth. Touring really helps you get a sense of the atmosphere at a school. Don’t just do the general tour; try to talk to professors in the departments you are interested in studying or tour those specific buildings to get a sense of the quality of that department. There were many instances where I toured a school and loved it, but the academic departments that I was interested in were not very strong or didn’t have good facilities, definitely served as a factor in deciding where to apply.