Finding A GOOD Fit

Rural

Pros

• Quieter with little city noise

• A more developed campus community

• Cost of living may be reduced

Cons

• It may be more difficult to find close by opportunities for jobs or internships. 

• Quieter with fewer options for ways to spend off campus time.  

Pros or Cons

• Less distraction and strong University community-- less to do in the surrounding community.

Urban

Pros

• A greater diversity of people, culture and opportunities

Cons

• Lots of noise and lights

• Increased cost of living is common, both for housing and daily expenses. 

Pros or Cons

• Lots to do/lots of distraction 

This is at its heart, a philosophic difference of approach and intent.  (follow link for more details) "Deciduous Tree" universities understand that they are there to educate students at a university level to be productive world citizens, with strong foundational skills across subjects both for flexibly in employability and a focus in a major direction.  The "Ladder" universities are focused on preparing students to be an expert in a career area. 

Liberal Arts Pros/Cons

You do not have to declare a major until later in the program, so you can try courses out from a variety of subjects to see what you really want to study. You also have foundational skills that will enable opportunities/flexibly as life circumstances and or the career world changes. Generally these programs take 4 years and if you wish to study Medicine or law as an example a further degree is needed to be able to become a Doctor or a Lawyer. A masters degree, other study program, or work experience may be used to help focus a resume.  

Focused Pros/Cons:

This program is fantastic for students who know what they want to do! It is three years (without sandwich opportunities).  It helps you to be an expert in a field you love!  But the other side of that coin is that it is very focused and if you are interested in other topics, they are eliminated from your study course.  If you decide that you wish to change, most of the time you will need to apply again and start again from the first year of the program.

Remember you are choosing a place to LIVE for the next 3 or 4 years, not just to study.  Students who are comfortable and happy do better in their academics.  

Things like:

• Weather

• Family

• Surrounding Community and opportunities 

• Access to beaches or mountains 

• Facilities for accessibility for sports or activities of interest!

All of these are important things to consider.

UK

To study in most all UK Universities you must know what you are wanting to study and the classes/grades you need to apply to that course. You should be looking for Universities that address the course you want through the topics you are interested in.(see professors and programs below). 

If you get into a course and then find that you want to study something different you most likely will need to re-apply and start in year one. 

US

To study at most programs in the US, you may apply with a major in mind but you can also apply as "Undeclared".   You will spend the majority of your first two years doing "general" requirements and major prerequisites. (Some programs are more focused like engineering or the arts, or architecture etc... and do require application to a specific program). In your second or third year you will start officially in your major subject. That being said, when you are applying, it is worth your while to look at what the majors are and to make sure that they offer opportunities that you are interested in. Just because they have a program with the right title, say Biology, does not mean that they have courses that cover the area of Biology you are interested in. See section 5. 

The importance of the deep dive!  It is very important that you spend some time looking deeply at the Universities you apply to.  Lets say you want to study Business Management. Three programs may all be called Business Management, but each offer different focuses and opportunities. One program may offer a Sandwich/Co-op program where you will have a mentored job experience, as a part of your degree.  A second program may be more focused on technology management and use.  A third program may contain units/classes focusing on Asian business, or European business that the others do not offer.  

1. Spend some time googling the professors so you know what they are interested in. (They will teach through the lens of what they love)

2. Look at the newspapers and web-pages for the departments you are interested in. Do the activities listed make you wish you were there to be doing that too?

3. Look at the courses offered. Read the course details and check out the course sequence through the program from your first class to the last. Does the list of courses make you excited to attend? 

As you do this deep dive please write down your thoughts, impressions, likes and dislikes in your University Notebook. These notes are a handy reference for later. 

This section looks at degrees that may start with a high school diploma and or an IB Diploma. There are many variations on this but these are the most common and universal terms used. Listed are some general terms and then it is divided by the UK and the US as the systems are different. 

BA/BS Degree

A Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science degrees are awarded by Universities all over the world.  It is the top end of the undergraduate degrees, and the next degree earned would be a Masters or a PHD.  These are typically 3-4 year degrees.  

MA/MS

Masters of Arts or  Masters of Science degrees are awarded by Universities all over the world.  These degrees are considered graduate level degrees, and typically take 2-3 years after earning an undergraduate degree (BA/BS).  That being said there are programs that are 5 or 6 year Masters programs that students can start right after graduating from Secondary School (eg. an IB Diploma).  In these programs students finish their undergraduate program and keep on studying through their masters degree without having to reapply to a different program.  

Bridging Programs

These programs are available in many systems around the world and as the title suggests assist a student who does not have the criteria needed for entrance into a specific course to bridge the gap and gain entry if successfully completed.  Many times these programs also provide for University credits that can be applied to the degree program.  These programs can be 1-2 years in length.

Sandwich or Co-Op Programs

These terms can be seen in descriptions of degrees all over the world, but are most common in programs outside of the US. These terms indicate that a program contains some type of hands on work experience. Sandwich usually refers to a semester or year, mid program where a student gains work experience in their chosen field, and then finishes their degree studies.

So it might look like this: University Study years 1&2, Work years 3, University Study year 4. (The work is sandwiched and supported by the university studies and program).  A Co-op program may look very similar to a Sandwich program, but the Co-op model typically means that the student has a job, where the sandwich model may mean a job or an internship type program.  The differences result in different levels of experience and pay.    

UK Specific Degrees

HNC-- Higher National Certificate- the equivalent to having completed the first year of a three year UK University Course.  It can be used to gain access to a University Course and or it can be used as a vocational degree to assist a student in gaining access to jobs in their chosen industry/field of work. These are more commonly offered at schools called Colleges in the UK system.

HND-- Higher National Diploma- the equivalent to having completed the second year of a three year UK University Course.  It can be used to gain access to a University Course and or it can be used as a vocational degree to assist a student in gaining access to jobs in their chosen industry/field of work. These are more commonly offered at schools called Colleges in the UK system.

US Specific Degrees

AA-- Associates Degree- the equivalent to two years of University Study.  In the US system a student may be eligible to work with their 2 year vocational AA degree or to use that degree to transfer into the third year of a four year university degree.  These programs generally take 2 years to complete, and are most commonly offered at Community Colleges in the US. (Please note that in the US a College, as different from a Community College, offers the same degree as a University, but generally focuses on the Undergraduate BA/BS degrees and the Undergraduate experience.

This choice has three components: 

• Housing

• Community

• Engagement

Housing

Check to see if this is mostly a commuter university or a residential university. Does this change after the first or second years? If you are in a dorm and it is in a big city, how far and what type of public transportation are needed to get there?  This will have an impact on the life and energy of the University community outside of the classroom.  If students are housed off of campus and away from campus they tend to spend less time on campus participating in University life. Research out of the US, says that students who live on campus for their first two years at least, tend to use more of the schools support resources from the writing lab, to the professors office time.  They also tend to have study sessions at the end of the hall with other students, and do better academically (grade wise) over the time of their studies. 

Community/Environment

What is the community in which you will be learning and living?  What is the vibe or ethos on campus?  Is it highly competitive or supportive? Are the classes/environment set up for students to get to know each other and to work together, or do people come in for lectures and learning, but "life" is not connected to the campus? Does the community have the activities that you want to participate in or people who would be interested to join you so that you can start a club if it does not exist?  What is the weather and the town surrounding the school? I am sure that you can think of 100 more things that could be brought up here.  In reality this often more about the feeling of the school-- does it feel welcoming to you-- does it feel like a place that will encourage you to take risks, push your own boundaries, learn and thrive -- does it feel supportive?

Engagement

Are the students who attend engaged in University not just in their subjects but in the community as a whole, and most importantly HOW are they engaged? Are they drawn in to the campus or are they focused outside?  Attending a University that is spread out in a city with buildings that need bus or subway to get to, may have less of a community feel. Students are engaged in a different way in their fields of study and in the wider city. Where a campus, generally speaking, provides a central location, where you may see the same people every day, eat together, party together, live together, and get to know each other and do stuff.  This tends to foster a more engagement in the life at the school.

Cost is a complicated issue!  - but one that important and critical to be discussed and carefully thought through. It brings up emotions that can be a significant factor in decision making, and often this is based on a natural instinctive gut reaction.  Often this reaction does not take into account all of the details, and due to this decisions can be made that are not the best for the long run on either a personal or financial level. Thinking through all of the details is therefore critically important before decisions are made. 

There are six main categories of costs that need to be included in the reckoning. 

1. Tuition: The sum of money charged for teaching/attending classes at a College/University program

2. Room: The sum of money charged for housing.

3. Board: The sum of money you will need to eat. This may include a meal plan in a school cafeteria, meals out at restaurants, and purchasing your own groceries to cook for yourself.

4. Travel: To and from the school both from a distance (Azerbaijan to NYC) and buss/subway passes or other transportation needs (Local). 

5. Fees and other school related expenses: This may include Books (average $1,200 per year), gym fees, supply fees, Health Insurance, Dental Insurance, internet and other housing bills, and or other school necessary costs. 

6. Personal Costs: This would include clothing, hair cuts, the occasional movie weekend, toiletries, dorm room decorations, etc...

NOTE: For much of the world the cost that is quoted usually included just Tuition, or cost of attending the University program--attending the classes and working towards a degree/course completion.   Please see The Cost Factor page for resources to learn more about paying for University.

One on one time with your professors

Small classes

Large lectures

Teaching Approach: Theory vs Hands on or a combination of both.

It is important that students know how they will be learning at the University. It is also important that students spend some time thinking about their own learning and what might be the best learning opportunity for them?  Do you learn by doing or learn by reading and conversing?  Do you want to be in a large lecture all with 400 people listing to a lecture, and then smaller break out sessions to delve deeper in to the content or activity.  Will you seek out books and content in your chosen field on your own or will you stick to the texts that are offered to you in class.  Another possibility might a class of 10-30 where you can converse with the Professor?  Will you attend class every day if they do not take attendance, or do you need a class of 30 so that the Professor notices your absence and sends you an email asking where you were?

Also understanding of how you will be asked to engage in content is important.  Is this a project based learning program, a theory based learning program, or a combination of the two? 

You know yourself best! Listen!  :-) 

In General

Public Universities in the world are those that are funded and governed by the rules of the Country where they are.  Private Universities, although they may be accredited or have accredited programs in the country where they are located are privately funded and governed.  This means that they will have their own admissions standards and policies as well as experiential models.  They may also have degrees that are granted by countries other than from the one where they are located.  This may be important for future study and work opportunities. 

Please note:  This can be complex and country specific issue, but it is important to understand and ask as you research your choices as it may impact cost, experience, and outcomes. It is covered VERY generally here. Please ask your School Counselor if you have questions. 

UK

In the UK there are just a few private Universities.  These may have different cost points and different pathways for acceptance of international students. See Large vs Small for some more information. 

US

 In the US the other part of this question to keep in mind is the for profit vs non for profit status of the institution, and to double check the general accreditation status for the University, especially for for profit schools.  (Accreditation means that they have been officially recognized as being qualified to grant University Degrees and credits. Departmental or Programmatic accreditation can also be important if you are entering a field like Engineering, Teaching, Nursing etc... )  

Granted

Public Universities are often large Universities, but not always, and not all large Universities are Public. The same is true for the smaller Universities/Colleges. I will not restate the Large vs small comparisons here. 

Public (Run by the Government) 

Pros

• May be cheaper especially IF you qualify for local tuition

• Student populations tend to be more diverse

• Access to a diversity of research facilities and equipment

Cons

• May be more "Red Tape"

• Lower access to professors

• Easy to get lost

• Tend to lean more towards the more competitive side rather than the learning for the sake of learning. 

Private (Usually run as a non-for profit) 

Pros

• May be cheaper if grants and scholarships are offered & IF you qualify.

• Individualized attention

• Tend to have a greater room for flexibility in access of the courses and in how that content is distributed.

Cons

• May have limited offerings, due to size constraints.

• May be more expensive if you do not qualify for financial aid

• If smaller class sizes, and talking in class are not your comfort zone then a smaller private school may not be for you.

In the UK there are a few options if you are looking for a smaller school environment. Most are large University programs and you will have lectures hall classes of hundreds of students as a part of your weekly routine. Some options for smaller environments include programs like Richmond, the US University in London, and the New College of the Humanities.  These are both private Universities and they have different structures in place than most other Universities in the UK.  That being said the pros and Cons are basically the same. 

Small (5000 and Under)

Pros

• Small Class sizes and one on one attention from professors

• Your Professor knows if you have attended class and or finished your home work.

• You get the feeling that you count on campus and in the community

• Teaching is done by professors who are dedicated to teaching and not focusing mostly on research

• More opportunities for collaboration with professors.

Cons

• Your Professor knows if you have attended class and or finished your home work. :-) 

• There are not as many options in terms of class offerings, majors, and activities outside of the classroom. 

• If you are having awkwardness with a person you will run into them all the time.

Large: (10,000+)

Pros

• Lots of people to meet

• A wide diversity of majors and activities

• There is always something to do

• You will have more on campus resources 

• There is likely to be a wider selection of food options

• Every year can bring a new you with new friends and living situations!

• A wealth of connections that can help you find a job

Cons

• It can be difficult at times to get into the classes that you need/want

• Lots of people to meet and it may be hard to find a community.  A Sea of people and you are but a drop of water. 

• You may be taught by graduate assistance in very large classes. 

• Lack of individual attention