Every year, over one million students are enrolled in a post-secondary institution, whether that’s college, university, or a trades school. These students are given opportunities to advance their careers, discover interests and passions, and build a personalized community with the cohorts in their programs. You may think that university is a logical next step in your education, but it’s a decision that shouldn’t be taken lightly. With over 290,000 universities in the world, choosing the right one for you can be difficult. That’s why we’re breaking down the top areas to think about when selecting which university is right for you.

#1. Academics

The main reason for attending university is for academics, so you’ll need to consider which university’s program is best for you. Here are a few things to consider:

• Admission requirements. Will you be able to meet or exceed them?
• Co-op. Will your program provide co-op opportunities or work experience?
• Program length. Will this program take four years, or will it take a longer or shorter amount of time?
• Specialization. Does the program offer specialized degrees or lead to further education if you’re choosing a specialized area?
• Studying abroad. Are there opportunities to study abroad, if you’re interested, or participating in an exchange program?

#2. Location

Depending on where you live, you may live close enough to university to drive, take public transportation, carpool, or even walk. For others, however, you may have to move cities, live in a campus dorm, or travel to an entirely different country. Consider these questions when thinking about your location:

• Do you want to regularly visit home, either on weekends or during major holidays?
• Do you have enough financial support if you choose to study abroad or live on campus?
• Are you capable of taking care of yourself, on top of studying, if choosing to live alone?
• How far of a commute are you willing to have? An hour round trip? Two hours?
• Will your family move for the sake of supporting you during university?
• Do you want to continue living at home while studying at university?

If you’re thinking about studying abroad, you’ll also have to be mindful of country-specific requirements, such as standardized test scores, language proficiency, visa requirements, and study permits.

#3. Campus Look and Feel

It isn’t enough to simply imagine yourself being a university student, but to get a sense of how it feels being on campus, navigating around, and sitting in the classrooms or lecture halls. If possible, visit your prospective universities ahead of time for a tour. This will allow you to experience the daily life of a student, where you would study or hang out with friends, and how campus life would be like. Some questions to consider:

• Do you have the capacity to travel from one end of campus to the other, if it’s large?
• Do you prefer to have all your classes centralized in one area?
• If there are multiple campuses, are you willing to travel back and forth between them?
• Do you prefer larger campuses, or smaller, personalized campuses?

#4. Where to Live

Knowing where you’ll study and eat aren’t the only factors to consider when choosing the right university. You also need to consider where to live after class is finished. Think about:

• Do you want to stay at home while you’re in university?
• Would you like to live with a roommate while living in a university dorm, or by yourself?
• Does your university offer a meal plan? If not, how affordable is it to buy ingredients and cook for yourself? Will you have enough time to do so?
• What other amenities does the university dorm offer? Think about laundry, gyms, common rooms, and other forms of entertainment.
• If you don’t want to live on campus, is it easy to find housing off-campus?
• Will you need a part-time job to afford the fees, or will you receive financial support?

#5. Food

Don’t underestimate the power of food – once home cooked meals are gone, you’ll be surprised by how much you’ll miss it! That being said, here are some things to consider:

• If you’re thinking about studying abroad, will you enjoy that country’s cuisine?
• If you plan to cook for yourself, how easy will it be to buy groceries?
• If your university has a meal plan, will you be able to easily access it, or is there a limit?
• If you have food allergies or restrictions, will accommodations be made?
• If you have irregular eating habits, will there be access to food at all times?

#6. Finances

University isn’t cheap. Over 2 million students in Canada have used student loans to pay for their tuition, and over 43% of students struggle to pay them off. Most graduate with a debt of $28,000, along with their undergraduate degrees. It’s important to think about:

• How much will you pay in tuition every semester?
• If you plan to live on campus, how much will it be every semester?
• Does your university offer scholarships or bursaries?
• If you plan to take out student loans, how long will it take to pay them off?
• Will your family support you financially?
• Will you have to find a part-time job to pay for tuition?
• How much will you be expected to pay for textbooks or school supplies?

#7. University Community

Universities aren’t just known for their academics but also extracurricular activities and student life. When narrowing down your options, you can also look at:

• Clubs. What kinds of interest groups are there?
• Organizations. These are larger and often serve the community, but you may also receive the chance to study abroad or travel for volunteering.
• Teams. Universities are also known for their athletics. If you’re an athlete, you can consider getting an athletic scholarship to support yourself while training.
• Societies. These are groups of people who share commonalities, such as ethnicity, gender or sexuality, or other marginalizations. These are safe spaces that aim to educate and empower others.

#8. Getting Around

A college town is a community dominated by a large educational institution and has everything that a town would – grocery stores, restaurants, entertainment halls and clubs, community centers, and more. These are often small communities and may be far from larger cities. Universities may also be in the heart of the downtown area, but regardless of where they are, you’ll have to do some research on:

• Public transportation. If you don’t plan to drive or don’t know how to, you’ll have to rely on local transit. Research bus routes, any high-speed rail options, and other ways to get around town.
• Biking. If you want to get some exercise while going around town, consider biking. Take note on how or where to rent bikes, or even buy a bike if you plan to use this as your main mode of transportation.
• Transit fees. Universities often offer transit passes with their tuition, so you may be eligible for a subsidized transit pass. If your university does not offer one, research the municipal transportation system for available student passes.

#9. Future Success

University education is valuable for entry-level jobs, and some university names carry more weight than others. If you’re thinking about competitive careers, such as business, engineering, or computer science, having graduated from a prestigious university may give you more leverage than others, especially if you have co-op experience. Think about the prestige of your chosen universities and how its name can help you attain future success.

Those are some areas to think about when narrowing down your choices of universities. It can be a difficult decision, especially if you receive multiple acceptance letters, so think over your selection carefully before deciding.

Not sure if you want to head straight to university after graduation? Consider taking a gap year to rest and see the world, or work and save up for university. The possibilities are endless!