Shopping Online for the Right Education

Making the most of online resources to find the right university.

Fall has finally arrived! The weather is cooler, the days are shorter, everything has become pumpkin-spiced, and it's time to think about what your future holds for your education. While these things remain the same, a lot has changed in the past year. One major change that you'll now be encountering is the proliferation of online university fairs and open houses.

Online events: comfort and convenience

Instead of potentially having to travel for hours to get to your destination, you can now grab your device of choice, move to the couch or a comfy chair, and take part in online fairs and events. Even though you may be attending virtually and not in person, it's important to go in having a rough idea of the content that you wish to seek out, and have a list of questions that you need answers to.

Choosing the right location, both online and off

First, think about geographically-speaking, where you want to study. You may already be set on studying far away from home, or attending a university right around the corner from you. Look into whether or not the schools that you're interested in are offering courses online, in-person, or combining both in a hybrid model of study. While we all hope to return to normal life sooner rather than later, it's important to find a school that will offer you the best chance to succeed both online and offline, including one that has great supports and services in place to help you do so.

Experiential learning

Second, think about which programs interest you the most, and align with your strengths. Inquire as to how these programs incorporate experiential learning or co-op opportunities, so that you can take what you've learned in the classroom and apply it in a practical setting. You can ask about how some of these experiences may vary or be offered online now, and learn about past opportunities to get an idea of what kind of extracurricular learning will be available to you now.

Getting connected with friends

Third, think about everything else! There's so much more to finding a university that's the right fit for you than simply focusing on academia. Look into the number of scholarships, awards and bursaries available to you. Find out what kind of athletics, clubs, and other extracurriculars are taking place both in-person and online. Register for a campus tour, and take a look at the different student-centred spaces that you'll have access to, and picture yourself navigating everything from self-contained campuses, to urban ones.

The Brock University Fall Preview event

Choosing a university can be stressful and overwhelming at the best of times, and given the current situation that everyone is facing, it can be even more exhausting. Get started with a plan of action, and find out when the schools that interest you are offering events to explore what they have to offer. At Brock, we're proud to be offering all presentations, one-on-one meetings, campus tours, and our upcoming Fall Preview event virtually, so that you can experience all that we have to offer from the comfort of home.

If you're currently attending school this year, work hard now, and it will pay dividends when it comes to planning your future. Best of luck in your studies!