Selecting YOUR Ideal University

Selecting an ideal university is a stressful and confusing situation for many high school students. It goes on inside your head almost every single day, especially when application dates are around the corner. A few common questions that arise are, "Which country? Which university? Which major? What is my budget?"

Which country to study in? What is my Budget?
The ever-expensive international programs offered in Thai universities are what most locals are not able to afford for they can cost up to 5-6 times than regular curriculums. People would often wonder, "Am I paying for something worthwhile?" Well the answer is "yes" and "no". Consider the following, especially if you're local:

1. Do you know why you want to go there? Or why you should go to that particular country? Some people keep in mind that all they want is to get as far (away from home) as possible, but do not have a clear reason why. But what if you don't like the things there and decide to turn back? Well, a short-term stay, say three to four months in the country can probably help you make up your mind better.

2. Do you have what it takes to be accepted? Well you have the SATs, TOEFLs to help you. But if you’re someone who’s consistently getting 1.5 GPA, you should reconsider your options, for people with better grades would benefit better, especially with scholarships.

3. Is going overseas in your budget? Sometimes going to other countries can be a good thing, but even with cheaper tuition, are the living costs going to compensate for what you don't pay in Thailand? Sometimes you have to pay even more than usual when you live in a foreign country.

4. Are you independent enough to survive on your own? Although this won't be a problem over time, but it is still best to stay near your parents where they can still reach out to help you when a situation arises, and this can be a big issue when you live overseas.

5. Do you know how much your scholarship covers? Are chances of getting scholarships high? It's hard to tell if you're getting the scholarships you want unless you have certain exceptional features/talents, and there is probably thousands of others fighting over it. Even if you do get your scholarship, is it enough to cover for your tuition and living? How much do you have to work to gain sufficient coverage?

Undeniably, earning a degree from a prestigious university overseas might possibly earn you a few extra points upon graduation, but if the five points are the least of worries, feel free to go ahead.

Which university to go to?
This is probably the biggest headache for most of you. When thinking about this issue, you’ll come across problems such as, “this university does not have the courses/major I want,” or “this university sucks,” or it can even be a remark such as “but my friends are all going there.”

Funny but true, the things you say do make a point, because this is what your future is about. But please also do get your facts right when making a judgmental comment.

Please ask yourselves what you need/want, for different universities/colleges can offer slightly different things.

1. Would you want and international environment or be in a Thai faculty? Or if you choose to stay overseas, you’d probably need to think about whether you want to be in a state-owned or private university?

2. Do you aim to earn one degree or earn double degrees? Yes, some universities offer that. If a double degree is offered at a university, it can mean:
a. The university is working with another university (usually overseas), and by the time you graduate you earn a degree of the same major from each university.
b. The university itself is offering you an option for you to take two different degree majors at the same time.

3. Are you interested in the exchange programs they offer? What are the clubs and activities? Well these are also important when selecting your university because it’s not the end of the world. While studying and getting busy over studies should be the top priority, it’s pretty much important to make four years of your life in college more memorable. As we all live in a society where connections play an important part, understanding new cultures and getting involved in something can also make you stand out in the crowd.

Basically there isn’t much you have to be concerned about except for your budget and what you would like to do. Please continue reading below.

What to major in?
WELL… There is a common myth that goes on around that says what you major in is going to decide for your profession. Now the answer is, “not always.” There are people who already know what they want to major in, while some who knows what they want to work as but don’t really know what degree will bring them there; and of course, the people who do not even know what they want.

Do not feel pressured… The truth is, you don’t have to know that yet, besides, some people only realize what they really want later on. What I mean by saying you don’t have to know what you want to major yet, is that most high scholars do not realize that there are many courses provided in university that were never taught in high school. These courses can include things like Archaeology, Photography, and even Women’s Studies!

This is one reason why there are general education requirements for degree programs, for it helps you to explore different aspects of courses, and over time you’ll know what you want to do. So please do keep in mind:

1. What you choose as your major when doing your application is NOT fixed. You are allowed to change your majors later on, even a few times is fine!! (Just don’t overdo it)

2. Do not put pressure on yourself, you have time to decide, besides, what you major in, doesn’t really decide for your profession. But what it can really do is land you on your first job interview, remember that.

3. Like I said in point 2, BUT, there are certain jobs like Nursing and Medicine that gives you a straight road into further studies or job, but do not let this fact bother you too much, because over time you might realize you’ve gained new interest. The fact is, people change jobs a few times in their lives, can you imagine being a financial analyst for 25 years? (I’d be pretty sick of that)

That is basically about it. For more information, I suggest you talk with your teachers, parents, and friends about it. Just remember that it is more important to do what you like than what you think you will do.

Bonne chance!


PS. Please tell me if there's anything I messed up, I will correct it ASAP. I need as much of your feedback as possible, so that I know what you really need. If so, please leave comments at the end of this post. I suggest that you only use this as a reference instead of a one-way guide to your decisions, as any ideas of such is not intentionally imposed. This post does NOT guarantee an answer to your question... so if you want to know something... kindly ask and I'll update. Thank you.