How to Choose Which University is Right For You: Practical Tips
Join us as we discuss practical tips like housing and transportation to help you pick your perfect Canadian university
Closing off this series about making that big decision, we’re going to focus on tying everything together. This week, the content team at OYMS brings you a piece on the smaller, pragmatic considerations to make when choosing your university as well as guidance on how to organize all of these elements.
You might be alone for Valentine’s, but not here
It may be you who personally clicks the ‘I accept’ button to finalize your decision, but you may find it helpful to garner insight from others as well. Parents, friends, teachers, upperclassmen, there may be individuals other than your school counselor with whom you can talk to about your plans. Don’t feel pressured to explicitly ask them what choice they think you should make; simply conversing about general thoughts on a certain school or their personal experience during post-secondary education may be helpful to you.
Attend seminars, presentations and information sessions conducted by the schools you are considering and from within your community. Take the time to collect any information you require to make your choice.
At the end of the day, you are not obligated to concede to someone else’s thoughts on this important matter. You may not have similar visions as your peers, you may not like the school your upperclassman attended and you may not want to go to that place your parents have approved, suggested, or recommended. However, listening can open yourself up to fresh perspectives and ideas that can help you reflect on your own.
Housing and Transportation
We’re going to talk about this point because inevitably, everyone needs a place to live while they learn. How you’re going to attend class may impact where you choose to go.
If you’re planning on living at home the coming semester with a fully online course-load, things are somewhat easier for you. You may want to think about flexibility to attend class on campus later on, should your school change its policies moving forward.
You may plan to live away from home while you’re at university. Be sure to consider ahead of time the cost of rent and living expenses, as well as the ordeal of house-hunting. If you live a ways from a school, there remains the alternative option of living at home and making the commute every time you have class. You might take public transit or drive, remembering to consider the monetary and time costs of each option.
A Last Word Heading Into 2022
Pandemic conditions might factor in some extra considerations. As online courses and distance learning become the norm, learning modes in courses may begin to vary from school to school.
One of your choice universities may have announced the upcoming school year to be completely online, while another may be planning to implement a combination of in-person and distance learning. Depending on what you prefer and the developing public health circumstances as you begin your first term, these differences may play into your final decision.
Here’s to your next big decision and a new chapter in your journey towards medicine (and other great things, we’re sure). Everyone at OYMS is routing for you!
About the Author
April Sui is a second-year student in Medical Sciences at Western University in London, Ontario. She’s currently working with Hashtag Health Podcast (based at UWO) and the International Predental Student Alliance. Bookworm, origami fanatic and French tutor, you can find her on LinkedIn or Facebook.
