Selecting a University – Do Your Homework, and Take a Field Trip Too!

Choosing a university can seem like an overwhelming task for many students, particularly if you’re uncertain about what programs or career options will suit you best. With a greater variety of programs in place than ever, finding your perfect fit may feel more like trying to find a needle in a haystack.

Research, Research, Research
When you first set out to narrow down your options, it’s a good idea to do some research about the schools and programs that interest you most. What are the program’s strengths? What exactly does it offer? Are there opportunities to do research, or to travel that might interest you? What have graduates from the program gone on to do? What is the universities reputation with publications such as MacLean’s or the Globe and Mail? Will completion of the program allow you to further your studies at the graduate level? What scholarships or bursaries are available? These are just some of the questions you can ask before deciding where you should applying.

Visit, Visit, Visit
After narrowing down your top choices, it’s a great idea to visit the campus (if possible) with your family or friends to help get a picture of what being a student there would really be like. Most universities offer open houses in the Fall and again in the Spring, and many will also offer campus tours year-round. Visiting the campuses will help you decide what you like – and don’t like – about each university. Take time to talk to students and ask what they like – and don’t like - too!