This final step encourages students to drill down into the details of the course itself and understand the day-to-day realities of being an undergraduate at this university.
Does the course look interesting to you?
This might seem like an obvious question – but it’s an important one. Does your student really want to take this course for the next three/four years of their life? Do all the modules and electives look interesting? There’s no point embarking on a degree course they’re not passionate about.
What kind of flexibility is built into the course?
Would your student be studying a very specialised degree all the way through their course? Or can they study a wider range of subjects before specialising (or picking a major) later?
This may have a bearing on the country they apply to. For example, UK university degrees are usually more specialised, whilst US and Canadian universities encourage students to take a wider range of subjects before picking a major later on.
How are classes taught?
This is a question that can help students think about how they like to learn. Some degrees will offer larger, lecture-based classes, whilst others will consist of smaller seminars and tutorials, where students will have more contact with the teaching staff.
How is the course assessed?
This is an important question for students to ask, as they are more likely to enjoy a degree that is aligned to how they like to learn.
So ask your students: are they more comfortable with a course where there are lots of essays and coursework? Or are they more happy being assessed in an exam setting? Will the course require a lot of group work and collaborative study? What’s the balance between theoretical and practical work (e.g. when looking at a science or engineering course)
How much will the degree cost?
This is another big question for students, especially in countries like the United States and the United Kingdom, where tuition fees are higher.
But don’t let your applicants be deterred by an intimidating price tag. Encouraging students to learn more about scholarships and financial support is another important step in the university research process. Countries like the US, which may seem expensive, offer their students generous financial aid, scholarships and bursaries.
Which leads us nicely on to our last question…
What kind of financial aid/scholarship package is available?
Many universities and governments in countries all round the world offer scholarships and financial aid for students. Access to student finance can be a major deciding factor for students as they consider their university shortlist.
The scholarship research process can feel especially intimidating and complex. So it’s best to encourage students to focus on government-backed loans and grants and the individual student finance options for their shortlisted universities.
And that’s our simple, three-step strategy. Students won’t have all the answers to these questions straight away; that’s why it’s important that you start your university guidance early enough so that they have time to reflect on the answers and gain a good understanding of what they want from a university experience.
It’s worth noting that there’s no time limit on this three step process. For example, Step 1 is more of a wider exploration of where in the world students want to study – this is something you could start with them as early as Year 11/Grade 10! It may be worth introducing the subsequent steps into your guidance programme in later years, as your student cohort get closer to the university application cycle.
To learn more about how you can help students in the subsequent stages of the university application process, download your free New Counselors’ Survival Guide.