Choosing Universities: Setting up for Success

I already have two daughters in high school. While there’s still a few more years before they head off to college, we’ve been frequently discussing already what their options are in terms of courses and colleges/universities. At this point, both of them are still undecided.

For those of you in the same boat, you might want to check out this upcoming event geared towards high school students who are, like my daughters, already thinking about their college education. I’m sharing with you here the press release for the event.

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Choosing where to go after high school is one of the biggest decisions students will make in their lives. For parents, even taking the job of guiding their children tends to become a daunting task. With so many possibilities and choices in today’s ever more globalized world, it’s easy for anyone to be overwhelmed when considering all the options available to them.

It has long been conventional wisdom that a good college education will lead to a good career and a good life. However, nowadays, the demands of the markets are constantly evolving, and relying on old advice for a brave new world may not always produce the best results. Consequently, education has also been adapting to catch up to the needs of the globalized economy.

Choosing a course for tertiary education happens at a young age for students, so it’s very common for them to have a change of heart in the middle of it. Of course, changing directions at any point is never the end of the world, but you can minimize risks by being well-informed, and having a clear plan from the very beginning.

Consider the following points when coming up with your plan for a student’s future:

1. What are your Strengths and Interests?

When students evaluate their interests and career prospects, they might find that what they want to pursue might not always line up with what their high school grades reflect. However, tertiary education allows for a fresh start, and it’s better to start with a target that they will enjoy pursuing, rather than pick a course that seems convenient. Passion drives a student to chase their goals, and should be a top priority to consider to avoid regrets later on.

2. What School should you choose?

When considering a school, keep in mind that it is more than just a name on a diploma. Primarily, the academic offerings of the school should line up with the student’s goals. The environment a school provides not only helps build the skill set of a student for a future career, but also helps shape the character of a maturing adult.

For some that may be uncomfortable with traditional colleges, students may want to consider attending a creative arts institute or a vocational school that specializes in specific skills. With globalization and the rapid development of tech and media, more and more career opportunities have opened up to these alternative paths.

Established institutions should also have a track record of taking care of their graduates after completing their education. Picking the right course at the right school should strengthen a student’s chances of starting off with a good career track.

3. What are your financial capabilities and resources?

Finances are the one thing most people want to avoid talking about, but is a very serious issue to consider. Tertiary education takes several years to complete, and plans made without calculated financial road maps can easily be derailed. This also makes a change of heart in the middle of a course very costly and risky. However, you can expand your limits by considering the many scholarships and financial assistance options now made available to many. These options may even extend to allow a student to study abroad.

With so many factors coming into play, it’s easy to see why so many students and parents might not be able to make an optimal decision. Often, they resort to sticking with “what they know,” for schools and courses – even if it is a bad fit for the students’ goals or personalities. By expanding your knowledge of potential options, you allow yourself to make well-informed choices. A good start with the right choices can set a student up for success in life.

To help students and parents explore their options, World Expos & Concepts (Worldexco) is holding the Expo for Higher Education 2016 on October 21 to 23 at the SMX Convention Center Manila. Exhibitors from many local and overseas schools will be present to offer students possibilities that they might not have considered before. The three-day event is the perfect opportunity to inquire about tuition fees, scholarships, test schedules and new course offerings. Aside from exhibitor booths, several institutions will also be providing interesting and creative presentations every hour to the expo’s attendees.

“The information that you can get from a brochure or website can be quite limited. This event will make it easier for students and their parents to collect information directly from the different institutions for higher learning without having to physically visit each campus which can be time-consuming and expensive,” says Raquel Romero, President and General Manager of Worldexco. “Under one roof, we’ve gathered a great mix of traditional and non-traditional schools of different sizes that offer a vast array of courses. Expo for Higher Education is really an easy way to jump start your college search.”

Entrance to the Expo is free of charge, so make sure you aren’t left behind! To learn more about the event, as well as register for free, visit www.expoforhighereducation.com .