Video: how to choose which university or country to study in
One prospective and two current international students share the criteria and methods they used to find the best university (and country) to study in
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While having lots of choice is no doubt a good thing, having too much choice can often feel overwhelming.
If you’re just starting out on your study-abroad journey and have no idea where to start in choosing a university or even a country, the tips below may help. Two current international students and one prospective international student share how they narrowed down their choices and the ways they researched their universities.
Bianca, undergraduate studentat Florida International University, from Spain
You’ve got the world as your stage and know what you want to study…but where?Ideveloped athree-tier priority ranking to narrow down my choices.
My first priority was figuring out whichlanguage I wanted to study in.I’m trilingualbut preferred to study in English.My next preference was studying in Spanish, so I included Spain – my home country –in my search.
The second priority was deciding which countries and climates I would enjoy living in.This helped me narrowmy options down to the UK, the USA, the Netherlandsand Spain.I knew I wouldenjoy a warm, sunny climate not too far from my family, so I listed the south-eastUS and Barcelona, Spain, as my top two regions.
My third priority was recognising which of my options were boththe most economically and academically feasible.I would have loved to study in the UK, but I couldn’t afford it – so it was ruled out.Unfortunately, the same thing was true ofthe Netherlands.
Now, all I had left to do was apply to universities within my grade range.Of course,include a few schools just out of your reach!I made sure to apply to universities I would enjoy attending.Thisallowed me to relax a bitbecause even if I got accepted in my 11th option, I’d be happy to study there.
Thankfully, I was accepted into my first choice, studying international relations at Florida International University.Despite having done my freshman year via Zoom from Spain, Ilovemy school and everything it offers.This three-tier priority ranking worked for me.I hope it inspires you to make your own!Enjoy the process andwhen in doubt, make choices that will make you happy.
See more about Bianca’s three-tier approach in the video below:
Elena, undergraduate at University of California, Los Angeles, from Indonesia
Choosing a place to spendthree to fouryears of your lifeishard– it’s even more so if you’re indecisive like me. In my case, I had to make the difficult choicebetween the US, the UK, Canadaand Singapore. I ultimately chose to study business economics at the University of California, Los Angeles (almost 15,000 kilometres away from my home town of Jakarta, Indonesia).
The main question I askedmyselfwas: “What do I hope to gain from my university experience?”
On further research, I found that different countries (and even cities) have vastly different cultures, degree structuresand education norms. As I was more interested in a flexible curriculum whereI couldexplore different majors, I narrowed down my options to the US and Singapore, as my offers there provided a liberal arts curriculum.
Academics aside, the overall “vibe”of the city is equally important, so youenjoy your out-of-class experience. With the intention of having a good school-life balance, I researchedextracurricular opportunities. As an international student, I sought to find a community of fellow Indonesian students on campus toeasemy adaptation to the new culture. Asking current students is an excellent way to gain insight.
It is imperative to decide which factors are most important to you. There are many considerations, including changingpolitical climate, how the pandemic affects ability to enrol, scholarshipsand your future career goals (so many that it would be extremely complicated to consider them with equal weight). Ultimately, you want to make a decision that you’re content with.
See more about Elena's decision-making process in the video below:
Ben, gap-year student, from Spain
As a gap-year student from Spain still navigating the college admissions process, I’ve spent countless nights scouring the internet to weigh the pros and cons of multiple locations. My heart was originally set on the UK because I qualify for lower tuition fees as a British citizen living in the EU. However, I knew I could go down a more adventurous route after stumbling upon YouTube videoson how universities in the USand Asia award need-based scholarships to international students.
I’m now torn between the US, Singaporeand the UK. With college decisions just around the corner, I’ve narrowed it down to two key criteria: aholistic education and supplementing rigorous academics with non-profit work.
As much as I enjoy handling test tubes and studying the life sciences, I’m also keen to branch out into other fields like education policy and human rights. That’s whyI’m drawn towards liberal arts colleges in New England and Yale-NUS in Singapore. Their open-ended curricula will putme inthe driver’s seat.
Pinpointing the perfect destination doesn’t happen overnight, let’s be honest. So please don’t rush the crucial planning stages! Give yourself ample time to build your college list.
I have ended up selecting schools that offer plenty of civic engagement initiatives, undergraduate-led research programmes, and paid internships. I’ve zeroed in on the US and Singapore because I want to bechallenged, miles away from Europe. But never rule out the back-up options that are closer to home!
Most importantly, you should choose a university that’s financially viable for you and your family.
All three students are tutors and/or editors at IBlieve, a community of IB students worldwide.
