It’s probably your first big decision in life, so it stands to reason that your choice of university is something that you should place a lot of emphasis on.
This is something that Patrick Dwyer Financial Advisor knows all too much about. As most people are aware, he has put together a very successful career in the financial industry and suggests that a lot of this success came courtesy of his strong educational background.
Bearing this in mind, let’s now take a look at some of the key considerations you should take into account if you are thinking of taking the plunge and choosing a university.
Where is the university strong?
If you take a look through the university league tables, you might find one that is apparently the best in the country. However, on closer inspection it might not be the best for you.
Sure, the league tables provide an excellent overview on how a university performs, but it doesn’t guarantee that they are going to excel in your subject of choice.
Some universities are more proficient in subjects than others. If you want to study finance, you might find that Miami might not be the top of the league tables overall but it has a very good reputation in this subject. As such, this should be high on your list.
In other words, don’t take the league tables as gospel. They serve a purpose, but when it comes to specific subjects you really need to initiate your own research.
Is the campus compatible with you?
If we take the University of Miami as an example, it’s clear that few people are ever going to have an issue studying here. It’s a cross between urban and rural, and this means that it is completely versatile.
However, there will be some campuses which sway more to one side than another. For example, if you are the type of person who needs to live in a big city, with all of the amenities, opting for the rural campus isn’t going to work. You aren’t going to feel in the right place, and this is going to impact your studies more than you might initially think.
What about the overall community?
The campus is one thing, but you also need to do some research on the community feel itself. Sure, the course might seem perfect and the campus as well. However, there is slightly more to university life than this – and all of this can have a bearing on your final grades.
For example, if you are a keen sportsman and this is a central part of your life, you are not going to be satisfied if you head to a university that doesn’t really dabble in this. This lack of satisfaction is going to hurt you one way or another; your motivation levels will drop, or you will find yourself traveling more so you can get your dose of sport. Both of these will obviously affect your overall performance at university.
