Choosing The Right University

Factors one should consider when choosing a university or college:

• Career Goals: What do you hope to do?
• Local Job Opportunities upon Graduation: What are the local job opportunities in the field you are studying?
• Programme of Study: Does the school offer the types of degrees that you may be interested in?  You may change your mind about what you want to study so having a variety of programmes and degrees to select from is important.
• Quality of Instruction: Variety of classes, computer labs, library, reputation (ask for a list of alumni from Bermuda and contact them to get more information).
• Cost: US $, CND $, UK £ and exchange rates.  Remember to include cost of airfare and ground transportation as well as tuition and room & board costs.  Compare costs to be sure you are getting value for your money.
• Accreditation: make sure your chosen college/universities are accredited.
• Location: Research the city where the school is located.  Remember this will be your new home.  Do you want to live in a large urban city, a rural area or a middle sized city?  Does it offer cultural or sports activities?  Will transportation to the school be easy or will you have to buy a car?  Is the city a university city?
• Size of Campus and Class Size: Smaller campuses and classes usually mean more interaction and more personal service.  On larger campuses you may just be a number but they may have more prestige or resources.
• Location of Dormitories: Will you be on the college campus or in close proximity to the campus/classes?  Be careful of the words “close to” it could mean 20 miles away.
• Weather/Climate: If you are not sure about the temperature refer to http://www.weather.com to check average monthly temperatures in the US.  Research to see what kind of different temperatures you can expect.
• Distance to travel from Bermuda:  Where is the closest airport?  It is a direct flight from Bermuda?  How far is the school from the airport?
• Racial Mix: Will you be going from being a majority to being a minority?
• Student Services: Is there an International Student Programme Director?  These individuals assist with housing, school orientation, and academic advising.  They also arrange social events and opportunities to get involved in student activities.