You will hear it all the time.  Choosing a university for higher education is one of the most important decisions in your life.  The place that you attend for college will have a huge impact on your future and your entire career. Yet, most of the students pick out a college based on emotions or a limited set of criteria.  A decision as critical as this would certainly require help and scrutiny from an educational advisor.

It is very important to shop around for colleges, level them against the factors that are important to you and the required criteria that you have.  Factors that you weigh in while selecting the colleges are going to start being general in the beginning, but as you narrow down the list, the questions will get more and more specific.
How do you tell which colleges are good? We know it is often a daunting task to find the right University for you, but we can help you with the factors to shortlist the best Universities.
It is also important to have a self-reflection on why you are going to a college and your expectations from the college. This will help you set your priorities straight. It might be possible that you are not ready yet. Make sure you take out the time, to do something productive and when you are finally starting to apply for the colleges, you might want to check the list below:

Things to keep in mind while selecting a university for higher education

• Accreditation – Before even starting to considering the colleges, make sure you see the accreditation. This means they are officially licensed and the curriculum has been reviewed and that it meets the standards of higher education.
• Type of Program – Usually the most critical factor for every student, selecting the right program makes the most impact on your life. Some universities offer more flexibility in their programs than others, so it is very wise to research the program details, by browsing through the university’s website and also taking the advice of certified education advisors at SKYLARK OVERSEAS EDUCATION. Then pick the universities that cater to your style of study.
• Cost – Before selecting a University, make sure it’s within your budget. Tuition for the program would depend on the course that you opt-in and the duration. You will also need to consider the expense of stay and commute. Universities in college towns are less expensive and have the same level of education compared to the expenditure in the bigger cities.
• Location – What kind of atmosphere do you imagine yourself studying in? The peaceful or the pace? Make sure you find a University according to that. In addition to the lifestyle, also look at the location of the Universities and the companies that are available within the vicinity for internships or jobs in the course of your program.
• Acceptance Rate – By looking at these statistics, you can understand the kind of students that the University is accepting and the chances of your admission to be accepted into the University.
• Admission Criteria – Most of the Universities have standardized test scores of their students. Checking these scores will help you understand your chances of admission.
• Campus Facilities – The most underrated factor while selecting a University by the majority of the students considering higher education abroad. By researching the facilities offered, you will know which options will be useful to you personally and educationally. These will help in giving an edge to your career.
• Academic Support – Universities should be able to provide you with strong academic support. Academic support staff can aid you in the course of your program with valuable resources. Support can be in the forms of career guidance, emotional well-being, part-time jobs, internships, credits and extra classes, networking, accommodation.
• Financial Aid– When worrying about your higher education funds, you should be able to apply for all possible forms of financial aid. Try getting stats on how many students succeeded in getting financial aid in the past to determine your chances of receiving financial aid.
• Practical Training – This is one of the best parameters to short-list the universities if you are eager for hands-on experience. A number of universities offer practical training opportunities as part of the curriculum.
• Job Placement and Career Services – Some Universities offer many resources under this category and this is a great factor to shortlist. Research on University’s alumni will give you a fair idea of the job prospects after graduating from the University. You can search for them on the University website, or you can consult the SKYLARK team, visit their education fairs and forums.  In this way, you can understand the active career choices applicable to you. Also, check if the University has a career guidance forum too.
• Safety – Every University is concerned about the safety of its students. You can look at the website to see if the safety measures are acceptable.