Once the school is over, a major transition appears in student’s life. While some students are clear as to what they wish to pursue in their higher education, some do remain clueless and in dilemma. Even if students are clear with the course they wish to pursue, another challenge arises in terms of selecting the college or university. However, things can be a bit clear if you know the parameters to consider when selecting the right college or university. Let’s understand the same.
Important Points to Consider When Choosing the Right College or University
Following are some of the important points you should consider when choosing the right college or university:
- Accreditation and Recognition
The very first thing to consider is the accreditation or recognition granted to the college or university. Universities are recognised by the Universities Grants Commission (UGC), All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) or National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC). It ensures quality education and establishes the validity of your degree. Further, it also makes you eligible for further education.
- Courses & Curriculum Offered
What are the different courses and curriculum offered by the college or university is important. You should consider whether the course you wish to pursue is offered by the college/university, is it well recognised, whether the curriculum is updated as per the industry needs and what is the future scope of the same if done from the concerned college/university.
- Reputation
The reputation of the college or university can be a game changer for future scope and your career. This is an important consideration and cannot be overlooked. Most well reputed colleges and universities have their own entrance examinations. Further, reputed colleges are also preferred by the top companies for campus placements due to the goodwill and talent pool they possess. Some of the prime examples include IITs, IIMs, NITs etc. If you manage to get into these colleges/institutes, then you can have a great edge in your career.
- Quality of Education
The quality of education is what builds the reputation of the college. It holds prime importance and you should consider what is the quality and coverage a college provides. This includes both the technical as well as practical education in terms of internships. The best way to know this is to reach out to alumni and seniors to understand the quality as well as future scope after graduation or post graduation.
- Location & Campus
Many students have to consider shifting to another city or state to pursue higher education. This plays an important role as finances can pose a challenge while migrating. Further, the campus also becomes a prime consideration, especially in today’s youth. The bigger the campus, the more reputed and established a college is considered. Therefore, these two factors plays an important role when choosing the right college for yourself.
- Fees and Financing
Reputed colleges usually have fees running into lakhs. This can pose a challenge for middle and lower income group. Further, financing also becomes a challenge in many cases, especially in less reputed colleges. Therefore, it is important to consider the fees and how you will be managing the payment of the same. Also consider the living and additional expenses, in case the college / university is in another state or city.
In a Nutshell
Choosing the right college or university is as important as selecting the right course and career path. Many qualifications hold value only if they are done from the reputed college or university. Being careful is important as in certain cases, selecting a college and then changing it in later stage may require you to start your education from the scratch. While in other cases, you can simply shift the college and continue from the stage you left. This is applicable in cases where the qualification is same. The above factors can help you select the right college and university to build a successful career ahead.