How to Choose Between University Offers
Ah yes, it’s that time of the year again. I remember last May when I was struggling to decide between the 6 universities I applied to. I had already narrowed the final decision down to 2 programs: UTSC’s Management and International Business (MIB) and UWO’s Management and Organizational Studies (BMOS). Yet, that did not stop me from anxiously researching the other universities as well. I wanted to make sure that I made THE right choice.
By the way, if you got rejected from any program, please don’t be too disheartened. You probably weren’t meant for it in the first place. Better things are awaiting you :)
Nonetheless, here are 7 tips to help you decide your final pick.
1/7: Reflect on Who You Are
The key to solving any problem well is to first understand it. Ask yourself: what do YOU want out of university? Friends? Clarity? A job? Security?
Be sure to dig deep and understand your purpose, perhaps by reflecting on your past experiences that shaped who you are today.
For me, I strongly considered my high school experience, realizing that my biggest takeaway was community. Without the clubs I joined, I wouldn’t have met some of my closest friends to date. I wouldn’t have the mentors I have now.
While I did enjoy some of my high school courses, the top-of-the-mind highlights of high school came from extracurriculars.
2/7: Identify your most important factors
Aside from some factors that you may have identified from tip #1, what are other major factors that have been worrying you about university? What would make or break your experience?
Some things you may want to consider are:
Cost of living
Distance from home (which can affect how often you go home)
School Culture
Opportunities (academic, extracurricular, etc.)
Campus Vibe
Alumni network
Program’s reputation
While there are many factors that you could keep track of, it's important to note that sometimes gathering too much information can overload your brain. Since people can't digest all the information they read, the brain gets fatigued, causing you to lose motivation and become less effective at solving your problem.
Also, school rankings might not be as important as you think. Some rankings are based on a school’s research capabilities, which may not be relevant to your field of study, and others might not reflect what you want out of university.
On the other hand, school rankings may be important for people looking to work abroad during or after undergrad. A strong international reputation may become your foot in the door to a non-teaching job abroad.
3/7: Double-Check Your Program Choice
While it isn’t overly difficult to switch programs, it helps to choose a program you like from the start. For maximum results, consider matching the structure of your program to your lifestyle; your program determines your number of class hours and types of assessments.
University experiences may differ across programs. In general, science majors will have to spend more hours in the library as their subjects are more memorization-based. They will also have a larger variety of assessments, such as weekly labs, which require more completion of practice problems to master.
Yet, business relies a lot on networking, selling yourself, and getting involved. You’re more likely to get away with improvisation on business assessments than science ones.
So science might be more fitted to someone who tends toward introversion and business toward extroversion. Reflect on how you learn best and where you would like to spend your energy.
Disclaimer: I’m not saying science is ONLY for introverts and business ONLY for extroverts; simply, it might require more energy for an introvert to thrive in the business world as opposed to if they were an extrovert.
4/7: Do Your Research
Don’t be afraid to reach out and ask people about their experiences. We have all been there before, and many are happy to help!
Some resources include:
Forums (Reddit, Quora, etc.)
Friends & acquaintances
Linkedin
Search up the school and program names
Are the people from your search results working in similar areas where you would also like to?
University Clubs List
Courses Offered
Some things to be careful of:
On platforms such as forums where contribution is optional, opinions may be on either end of the extreme spectrum (either someone’s really happy or really unsatisfied)
Positives will be talked about more than the negatives (after all, no one wants to say that their program, and thus possibly their decision, sucks right?)
Also, be careful of listening too much to what your peers say about a certain school or program.
Take everyone’s opinion with a grain of salt; they are most likely opinionated toward their own personal factors, and they also haven’t experienced it yet.
5/7: Analyze Your Results
This might involve coming up with a weighted, calculated scoring system on Excel, writing down a pro-con list, or simply thinking about it over many nights. Which part(s) of your research align best with your personal purpose? Could you re-create the opportunities from one university at another?
For me, something I noticed when talking to UTSC MIB students on Linkedin was that their experience seemed to be up and down at times with many just looking forward to the co-op aspect. I wanted a more well-rounded experience which drew me closer to Western University.
While Western doesn’t have a co-op program, I reasoned that I could re-create UTSC MIB’s 3 work terms + 1 study abroad term at Western if I tried hard enough. After all, Western students are given 3 summers + portals with access work and study abroad opportunities.
I also kept in mind that nothing guarantees you a job in today’s market, not even co-op.
One of the things that really set my decision in place was when I asked my friend, a UWO alumni, if she regretted going to Western even though she ended up in a completely different field from her major (she currently owns a beauty studio for brows and lashes). She said she would make the same decision again in hindsight, and that really sold it for me.
Also, looking at the clubs list between UTSC and UWO, I was more interested in the ones Western offered. Not only did their dance club, Hip Hop Western, match my preferred style better, but I also had an existing network there.
Further research into the clubs structure at both schools revealed that UTSC limited students to one executive role per person. Knowing that I wanted more responsibility than that, I leaned towards UWO for more extracurricular freedom.
6/7: Ensure Culture Fit
You are the sum of your 5 closest friends (aka “you are what you attract”). As your university self will be influenced in part by your friends circle, make sure you can see yourself at least somewhat fitting in with your overall impression of the school’s culture.
After all, university programs are relatively similar across the board in Canada; the only thing that differs is who you meet and what opportunities you have to get involved.
In my case, I was quite worried about Western’s iconic party culture. I had never partied in high school.
Yet, based on the abundance of people willing to take a chance at Ivey despite not being 100% guaranteed admission, I got the impression that they were risk-takers with a “work hard, play hard” type of culture. As well, the questions asked in the AEO application were extracurricular-based, which aligned with my personal values.
Consider asking some of your close friends if they can see you at that university in your program-of-choice. While you know yourself best, your friends may be able to provide a more holistic or objective point of view.
Notably, it helps to have upper year friends who already go to your university-of-choice. An existing support system could turn out to be your backbone in times where you’re troubled with exams or dealing with first year friendship problems.
Not only will this provide you with more assurance going in, but it might also be better for your mental health in the long run, and mental health can really factor into your academics.
7/7: Believe in Yourself
No matter which university you end up choosing, have faith in yourself and your decision. Wonderful opportunities are up ahead, and as long as you work hard, keep an open mindset, and are willing to learn, you’ll do amazing.
Once you have made your final decision and attend your chosen university, believe that you have made the right choice and try not to second guess with “what ifs.” Just give it your best shot.
Remember, what you seek is what you shall find. You’ll be able to find your tribe no matter where you go, just be yourself and trust in the process.
At the end of the day, education is important, but it is not your identity. University is a big decision, but it won’t determine the rest of your life if you choose not to let it.
Nonetheless, please enjoy the last of high school. Enjoy life and try to live in the present. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me if you want to talk more! :) Cheers!
P.S. Special thanks to all my friends who helped edit this, especially Yousa Dum, Broccoli Soldier, and Anonymous Otter.
About the Author
Sammi Yeung is an incoming second year student at Western University. She studies business and loves to take any opportunity to challenge herself.
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