Finding a university that is the best fit for you can be a challenging task to achieve. Some universities fit more than others, and a lot of students will take into account the student life around campus which universities understand. Some students are looking for extra-curricular activities, whilst others are interested in the nightlife and have even visited websites like Fake Your Drank to facilitate these needs. With thousands of universities and colleges across the region, how do you even start to narrow down your choices? Somewhere on the list is the best university. But how do you find the best one?
The answer starts with understanding that the best university is the one that’s right for you. It may not be the university with the biggest campus or the most impressive athletics teams, but it will be the university that fits you and meets your needs.
Let’s start by dealing with the most pressing question: how do you determine if a university is perfect for you? The school that fits you best will:
- value you for what you have to give
- provide a community that feels like home to you
- offer a level of academic thoroughness to match your preparation and aptitude
- offer a style of instruction that matches the way you want to learn
- present a program of study to match your needs and interests
Remember that the schools that have seen what you could do and are ready to invest in your success are the ones that will admit and give you the support you need to accomplish your goals.
The Consequence of Not Considering Your College Fit
Less than fifty percent of students enter college and graduate in four years. However, barely half will graduate from any university at any time of their lives.
These are not good results for either the student or society. If you’ve decided to go to college and fail to finish the course to graduate, you’re losing time that could have been utilized to move you closer to an undergrad degree or find a career path.
Even if you go back to the classroom after having been gone for a while or you move to another school, the price of lost opportunity can be substantial. You won’t just absorb the fees and tuition associated with an extra year or so for education, but you should also wait a little longer to take advantage of your new earning potential.
That is not to say that you should be certain of where you want to attend university and that you are not allowed to change your mind. After all, humans are allowed to change their minds. Often, it’s our mistakes that enable us to learn more about ourselves.
It’s always important that you prioritize a blend of academic as well as personal needs when considering which university to attend. For instance, it’s essential to make sure that the quality of teaching is good, but it’s equally important to see that the amenities they offer are up to a standard. Ensuring that the university prioritizes student well-being by providing clean and furnished dormitories, a functional and renovated dining hall with nutritious food, and extra-curricular facilities can all make a difference to your happiness in this environment.
There are all forms of acceptable reasons-academic, financial, and personal-to leave school prematurely. However, leaving because of fit is a preventable disaster.
Why Should You Concentrate on Finding a University that Suits You?
Choosing where to go to college must not just be a matter of picking an option that’s good enough. It must be a decision made with intentions. Throughout your undergraduate experience, you will meet a lot of new people, get ready for a career, and obtain a depth of knowledge you have not previously.
On top of that, you should use your time in college well, with the goal of improving your lifetime earning potential.
The key here is to get the choice of a university “right” the first time. To achieve that, you should reflect on the factors mentioned earlier that relate to a good university fit for you. Doing so means you put yourself in the best position to find success both in the university admission process and the undergraduate years that follow.
As you consider college, start by acknowledging that fit is focused on your sense of self. Do not settle for a university that meets one or two criteria. We wish you the best of luck!