So, your child is done with their school and college, and now you’re looking for a suitable university for them. At first, glance, making that decision might feel simple and straightforward — but let me tell you — it’s not.
Choosing a university, in most cases, will affect the entire life of the student. Would that change be positive or negative, you ask? It depends on if the student makes the right decision.
To help you and your child pick the right university, I’ve compiled a list of useful tips. Keep reading and you’ll eventually be able to make this decision easier.
Contents
First and foremost: Choose the right subject
Choosing a subject is arguably the most important aspect before picking a university. The subject a student chooses essentially affects the next 3-6 years of their life during the study period. After they graduate, the chosen subject affects their life for another 40-60 years while they work in the specified area. Needless to say, choosing the right subject is crucial — I repeat, “crucial” — for a student’s career.
This decision has to be made before your child goes on the hunt for a university, as different universities specialize in various subjects. First of all, ask your child about their interests and specialties. Then, find a subject based on those interests. Do your research, and empower your child to do the same.
Remember, this decision has to be made early on. Changing a subject after attending the class for a few months is close to impossible.
Pick a university based on the preferred subject
As mentioned earlier, different universities are specialized in various fields — unless, of course, you’re going for a top-of-the-line university, where every subject is taught by the highest-grade professors.
Based on the subject your child chooses, head towards Google and research the best universities in that particular subject. For example, if your child wants to be a dentist, searching the term “best university of dentistry in my city” could help you out.
If you’re willing to send your child abroad, make similar searches, but instead of searching for universities in your area, look for options in the target country or state.
Check for co-curricular activities in the selected university
Regardless of what bookworms might tell you or your child, university life is not all about studying. It’s also about exploring your hobbies and making a name out of them.
If your kid is passionate about football, cricket, or some other sport, research the events and clubs in the university you’ve chosen. If the university doesn’t conduct enough of those activities, it might not be a suitable fit for your child.
The same rule applies to other hobbies and talents as well; for example, if your kid is a good speaker, you might want to research whether the university conducts debate or speech contests or not.
Check for student accommodations
If you’re sending your child to a university in a different city, state, or country, chances are, you’re sending them away for the first time in your life. Moreover, your child may not know how to cook, wash clothes, and take care of themselves on their own.
Make sure the university you’ve selected has accommodations for students. It must be someplace nice and friendly — a place where your child can live without feeling away from home. Moreover, give your child the necessary training on cooking food, washing clothes, and taking care of their daily needs on their own.
Be aware of post-graduation tests
Some fields will require your child to take a national test after they graduate. For example, if your kid graduates from a nursing school, they’d need to show up for the NCLEX-RN test and pass it in order to be considered a registered nurse. Keep in mind that there is a lot of studying and learning to do before entering such an exam, therefore your child needs to use all the resources they can get. For example, reading medical guides by Osmosis would be a good place to start. Make sure you and your child are aware of such tests in the selected field before starting the university and do everything you can to be fully prepared.
Teach them about freelancing
With all of the different ways that we can prepare our teenagers for life, one thing is always on their minds: What do I want to be when I grow up? As parents, it’s important to help them figure this out so they have an idea about where they are going in terms or future goals. And teaching your child how freelancing works might just give him/her some tools towards figuring out his/her own path which will lead him down a much happier road than if he had followed any other job choice you may have thought would make sense at first glance! Teach them about freelancing and the opportunities that come with it. Through freelancing, they could find a middle ground about their different passions, such as writing and medicine for instance. They could easily become freelance medical writers if they’re dedicated enough.
Conclusion
Choosing a suitable subject and university is one of the most important decisions of one’s life — as the student has to live with the chosen field forever then. For that reason alone, you have the responsibility of guiding your child on the right path to choose the correct university for their needs. Paying heed to the above-mentioned tips will essentially help you out in decision-making.
