How to start researching Universities?

For all students considering a university outside India, the prospect of drawing up a potential list must be leaving you squirming. It is normal to feel like this considering that you know little to nothing about these universities where you are looking to spend such important years of your life.  

The good news is that there is a certain way through this haze.

Many of these universities are as eager to admit you as you are to get admitted. For this reason, they go that extra mile to come and meet you in your city. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to attend a college information session whether in school or at a public venue. Hear what the college representative has to say about themself. It is equally important that you put yourself out there and ask some questions of your own. There is a heap of information available on their websites so do not ask the obvious questions like how many majors do you offer, where all are you located, what are your application requirements and deadlines?

Let us go over some of the good questions you could ask to learn more about a university:

• What are the best programs at your university?

• What kind of support is available for students to help them pick a major? How do you help students who are struggling academically? Is there robust academic advising?

• What is the student to faculty ratio? Is it possible to easily approach the professors for outside help or discussion?

• What are the prime ways in which you ensure a collaborative classroom?

• What kind of study habits do most of your students have or what is their typical day like?

• What is the one way in which you ensure hands-on learning?

• What are the two most important qualities that you look for in students through their application?

• How do most students typically spend their weekends?

• What percentage of students live on campus? Is on-campus housing guaranteed?

• What is the campus culture like?

• What are the extracurricular activities that are most popular on campus?

• Are there any formal programs in place for the freshman students to interact with sophomore/junior/senior year students for mentoring on how to access internship opportunities?

• What kind of alumni engagement programs do you offer?

• What is the one personal quality that gets fostered in students at your college/university by the time they graduate?

• What pathways have students with my major most popularly chosen after graduation?

• What merit-aid scholarships are available for international students? Is there automatic consideration? Does applying for financial aid adversely affect my chances of getting an admissions offer?

This is not an exhaustive list but a good one to begin your research process. After such an exchange of information, you will certainly feel enlightened and will be in a stronger place to match your orientation style and interests to what each university offers. This is a surefire way of making a list of universities that resonate with your educational goals.

We wish you this kind of start.