Now that you’re about to finish high school, you have probably realized that college is on everyone’s lips. There will even be people around you who constantly question which university you plan to pursue your career at. But hey, relax! While the college selection process is part of a series of decisive actions to determine your future, how to do so is not difficult; you just need to research to see which one best fits your career and career goals.

Did you know that in Mexico alone (according to the Interactive Education Statistics Consultation System https://bit.ly/3a9yjgg) there are more than 5,535top level schools? This fact shows that research to define the best university for you is a process that you must perform with calmness, time and commitment. It’s important that your research gives you a context of the type of universities that exist (their education system, educational offers, if it has specialties, campus life) and thus, you can make a more conscious decision.

Of course, there is no perfect recipe and each person is different and looking for different things. That’s why we leave you 5 aspects to include in your research for universities that will surely help you make your decision.

·      Study Interest

o   Before looking for a university, you must first know what educational area catches your attention (humanities, applied sciences, engineering, art and design, business, health and medicine, etc.). You can help yourself by taking a Vocational Test which will help you to know about your affinities and skills and find out which area of study is most related to you. We recommend that you review not only what you like, but also what you are good at and what your professional and personal goals are. Defining your area of educational interest will reduce the list of possible universities.

·      Educational Offers

o   It is true that there is no universal curriculum for careers, so reviewing the educational offer of many universities and their curriculum can give you an idea of what you will get from the career. It is not about choosing now; it is about finding the university that has your career and the specialization you are looking for. This will let you know the professional avenue that each university gives to the career and, consequently, give you an idea of what to expect in a future profession.

·      Educational Model

o   It is very true that being professionally specialized in an area is not enough to compete in today’s job world.  Look for universities that offer the possibility of taking classes from different disciplines. This is vital for your professional development. Also look for training in sports or cultural areas, as this pays to develop basic skills that will be useful in your academic, personal, and professional life. In addition, all this will allow you to discover skills that you did not know that you had and that you probably did not even imagine.

·      Location

o   Sometimes the career we want is not at any university in our locality. This would involve moving to another city or state to get closer to school that does offer the program you are interested in.

Don’t rule out a university that fits your profile because it’s far away. There are universities that offer the possibility of living in campus residences. This can be a cut down in cost in many respects: you can save on travel time to college, money on transportation, maybe even on meals (there are universities with eating plans). You can have more time and this will allow you to study more, live with your colleagues, have time for a job or enjoy other activities. Remember making better use of your time means improving your quality of life.

Take into consideration that the university you choose will be the place where you will live new experiences and attend classes for a few years, so you will have to be very convinced of your decision. Assess whether the costs and time involved in moving are feasible and rule out universities that don’t work for you.

·      Benefits when you graduate

o   After college comes to your future profession, so it is worth exploring the relationships schools have with companies. Some universities have a job pool that helps you position yourself in the job market during or after college. Some may even offer prestigious internship programs with international companies. The subject of professional degrees is also important, as some universities award a degree that is valid worldwide. There are universities where you are awarded a degree with just one exam or automatically (depending on your average and performance). Check which options suit you and if there is a cost for each option. There are some institutions where getting a degree may cost you money that you wouldn´t have contemplated.

Now that you’ve reviewed which educational areas are the ones that spark your interests, teach to your skills and career goals, have the educational model curriculum you desire,  and locations of your interest, organize all the information you have obtained.  From your research, start making a list of the pros and cons of each university. It is time to choose!