Choosing a college or university – "The game is afoot!"

By Ashleigh Viveiros

But it doesn’t have to be as scary a process as it can seem. With a bit of research and planning, you too can find the perfect school.

Assuming you know what you want to study, your first step is to figure out what programs are available and which schools offer them. Check out our program or advance searches and career profiles for links to the schools and programs available across Canada.

Once you’ve got your list, there’s a couple of different ways you can go about making a decision. A favorite among the happy-go-lucky (and possibly drunk) students out there is to put all the prospective schools up on a dartboard and let Lady Luck decide your future.

But for those of you willing to make a more mature, responsible decision, get ready to do your research.

First off, reinforce the ol’ mailbox and send away for all the university and college catalogues and program brochures that are relevant to you.

These are invaluable tools in your investigation of course descriptions, program requirements, and university policies, says Irene Schmidt, a guidance counsellor at Garden Valley Collegiate in Winkler, Manitoba.

"You need to investigate what programs are out there," she says. "Read the program description and outline very carefully. Compare what’s being taught at different universities."

Right off the bat you may be able to knock off a few schools from the list based on the fact that you just don’t like the vibes their program packages are sending you - maybe one school’s program stands out above the rest while another seems too unprofessional or uninteresting.

In the schools left, there are three main points you need to consider before going any further in the process: program requirements, tuition cost, and campus location.

It’s key that you ensure your high school marks match up with the school’s minimum cut-off point before applying, says Schmidt, and that you have all the necessary prerequisites.

Without those requirements, your chances of getting in are slim to none, and you’re likely wasting both your time and application money.

It’s also important to make sure you can afford a school’s tuition fees, says Schmidt.

"In the end, you have to decide what you can afford," she says. "You can have the biggest aspirations you want, but if you can’t afford it, what are you going to do?"

Check out the school’s scholarship possibilities, figure out how much you think you’ll be able to get in student loans, and how much you or your family can ultimately afford for school.

Finally, you need to consider just where the school is located. It’s fine to think about how much fun it’d be to move halfway around the world for school, but is it really what you want?

Take a look at what sort of city the school is in, how far it is from your family and friends, and whether it’s a place you can see yourself living for four or more years.

Schmidt suggests students get used to university life by first going to an undergraduate school closer to home and then going further away for grad school.

"That way, you can always go home," she says. "It’s important when you’re venturing out on your post-secondary years to have that support system."

Once you’ve determined that a program looks promising and you have what it takes to get in, it’s time to take a closer look at the school itself.

The best way to find out if a school is right for you is to check it out first hand, says Schmidt.

"Kids have done that and come back and that’s made their decision right there," she says. "That’s one of the best ways because then you get a personal feeling for the campus."

By wandering around the campus, either on your own or with a guide, you can check out what the classrooms look like, how crammed the school is, whether or not you can find a decent cup of coffee within a two-mile radius—all things you might not get from a brochure.

Contact the school to find out if it’s okay to sit in on classes in the program you’re interested in. Some schools will even allow you to follow a student around for the day to get a real feel for a typical day-in-the-life.

The information you can get from current and past students can be invaluable when making your decision, says Schmidt.

"If they think it gave them good training, good value for their money, they’ll tell you that," she says.

Students will also be able to give you some insight on student life at your school—what is there to do for fun? What services are readily available? In what areas is the school lacking?

If you’re planning on staying in residence, be sure to take a tour of the dorms as well. It’s especially important to find out just what kind of dorms are offered - are they quiet places of study and reflection, or is it party central? Both are okay, depending on your own personality and expectations, says Schmidt.

"Make sure it’s going to support you in what you want to do," she says.

Another key thing to consider is the size of the school itself, and, subsequently, the number of people in an average class.

"Universities will often have, especially for first and second year, huge classes," says Schmidt. "You have to take that into consideration when you’re choosing. Can I handle that or do I need more one-on-one?"

Finally, since you’re preparing to spend big bucks on a degree or diploma from a school, make sure it’s worth more than the paper it’s printed on. Research your school’s reputation to ensure you’re not only getting a quality education, but one that means something in the workforce.

Evaluations, such as the Maclean’s Guide to Canadian Universities, are a good way to find out a school’s reputation, but you could also contact prospective employers in your field to see what they think about a program. If a degree or diploma from a school is useless to them, they’ll tell you.

In the end, all that’s left is you, a mountain of research, and a decision to be made. While the ultimate choice is really quite subjective, don’t let completely irrelevant factors influence your decision, says Schmidt.

Don’t go to school just because you’re best friend/boyfriend/high school crush is going there and especially don’t go to a school just because your parents or older siblings did.

"Far too many students, I think, go where their family members have gone," says Schmidt. "That I don’t think should be the first thing that they think of when they’re choosing a school.

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