Tips to find the ideal college for you

If you’ve come to the time where you have to start your higher education is more likely that your biggest concern right now, besides the study plan you choose, is which university you will attend. Especially when you choose to study abroad this decision will be crucial to your professional future but don’t worry! We’ll help you make up your mind.

While it’s true that there are many international rankings regarding the best college in the world, this is not the only thing you should consider. Before making any decision you need to come clean with yourself about your aspirations and possibilities.

Which specialization interests you?

This is the first step you should look into before making any decision. When you’re clear about what you want to study and which specialization you will take, evaluating colleges will become an easier task. Why? Many institutions stand out in specific areas or are better known because of a particular study plan.

When you’ve identified your true calling it’s time to do some research about the universities that offer it, how is their professorship formed and the prestige it may have internationally. It is also important to evaluate the job opportunities once you’ve gotten your academic degree and how can you benefit from it.

Faculty experience

As we said earlier, it’s fundamental to know about the professors who make up the universities you’re interested in. Look up online about their trajectory according to the courses they give, academic degrees they may have and where have they gotten their working experience.

You might be wondering: how the hell do I know that? There are pages such as Rate my professors which is pretty much like Rotten Tomatoes but for teachers. All you have to do is look up the name and you'll find the reviews other students have given about them. 

If you find out that maybe they haven’t got an academic degree related to your specialization or if they don’t have the experience needed to teach a certain class maybe you should look up for other alternatives. No one’s perfect, sure but you need a professor who can form you and make you a successful professional.

Teaching methods

This point will depend mainly on the study plan you choose; if you opt for a science major, the university must be equipped with high technology labs and include a lot of practices in the study program. Or maybe, you'll need to find one that's all about digital tendencies and promoting research and team work.

Keep in mind the teaching methods will determine how easy (or not) you'd understand the courses and even the quality of the education according to the tools they offer for each career.

Side note: teaching methods can also match your profile. If you're more of a hands on - crafty person you'll obviously prefer more practical methods but if, on the other hand, you're more of the nerdy kind you'll surely go for research and traditional assignments.

Students services

Not all colleges have the adequate student services. We're talking about places where you can go whenever you feel lost or need academic mentorship, or even professional when the time comes to start your internships.

Specially during your first year it's normal to have a lot of doubts regarding how classes and schedules work. If you're studying abroad, asking for help or advisory about how things work in campus is a lot more necessary. That's why is so important to find a college with a helping center for students, it'll make getting used to your new routine A LOT easier.  

Big or small University?

Believe it or not, the size of a university can influence your decision. big campus there are around 15 thousand people including students and professors. How can this affect you? Well, your academic life will likely tend to be a lot more independent with little to none interaction with professors, while in the smaller ones you'll have the chance to be more in contact with teachers the people around you.

Have you seen those movies where there are these huge auditoriums filled with tons of people attending a class? That's how it's going to be if you go for a big university, there won't be much space for questions and you'll be surround with so many people you won't remember their names. In a much smaller college classrooms will be the regular size with half the people and a lot more opportunities to interact with the teacher and your classmates. 

What's your budget?

Generally, higher education is expensive no matter where you go and if you decide to go abroad there are many additional expenses you should consider like transportation, rent, food, etc. If you have a tight budget you need to look up the costs of the zone around the university, registration fee, scholarships and all things regarded your living expenses.

With our program, you can study 2 years in Peru and then move to the US so you'll spend less money and it also allows you start saving in advance according to your ideal budget. Keep in mind you'll be living on your own and administrating your money will be elementary! 

There are only a few things to consider before choosing a college, however no one knows better than yourself what abilities and strengths you have when it comes to finding a profession and the varsity where you'll educate. Make sure to clear all your doubts and once you make your decision you won't regret it!