As study abroad counselors if we came up with a list of Frequently Asked Questions by Students, then I would say “Which Universities should I apply to?” would top the list, and irrespective of the universities we recommend, a question that almost certainly follows is “Is it worth going there?” So let’s step back a little and discuss ‘how to select universities that are worth applying and going to’.
When you start looking at an Masters degree abroad, what exactly are you looking at? Try asking yourself:
- Why do I want to do an Masters?
- What are my expectations from an Masters?
- Where do I want to see myself 5 years from now?
If you are looking at the Masters program just as an opportunity to go to foreign country, then you can probably go for any university in that country (cheaper the better). But if you are also looking at a serious career options, then you need to be a little careful while selecting universities. Here are some factors you should consider:
- Reputation of the university: Check the overall ranking of the university and/or your program. While ranking is a good indicator of the university’s reputation, you need to understand that ranking depends on several factors and as a masters student you may not be affected by all of them. So a university ranked 23 is not necessarily better than a university ranked 24. From a student’s perspective, they would be the same. But a university ranked 23 is definitely better than a university with rank 73. Basically what I am trying to say here is that you use rankings as a guideline to get an idea of the reputation of the university.
- Statistics: Statistical data is a fair indicator when it comes to predicting admission trends. So look at profiles of past students studying at that particular university. This will give you a fair indicator of your chances of getting in. Again remember that there aren’t any hard rules here. Just because somebody with a low test score and average GPA got in last year, doesn’t mean that you will definitely get in even if you have better scores and a GPA. You need to understand that admission is a subjective process and your overall profile (which includes your recommendation letters, your resume, your SOPs) counts.
- Get feedback from past and current students: Connect with current and past students of the university but don’t ask vague questions, because if you ask vague questions you get vague answers. Most students would ask: “I am applying to your university, how is the ‘funding’ and ‘job’ scene there?” and all you get as a reply “Bad”. Now how do you interpret this answer? Most of you would interpret it as “If I go to this university I won’t get funding and a job”. And few months later you realize that this same person who said the situation is ‘bad’ not only had funding from the university but also secured a full time job on graduation. So what exactly did he/she mean by ‘Bad’? Anyways the point is ‘Ask questions that make more sense and don’t leave too much room for assumptions’. You can ask “How many or what percentage of students get funding or campus jobs” “how many of them get those in the very first semester” “Do MASTERS students get to participate in research” .“do companies come to campus for recruitment” “If they don’t, how do students go about their job search”
- The Big City advantage: Yes there is definitely an advantage of studying in a big city, especially when it comes to jobs after graduation. So given a choice, I would recommend selecting a university in a big city.
- Your career interest: This should preferably be your most important criteria. Ask yourself again “What are my interests when it comes to a career. What subjects or topics interest me the most”? Take a look at the university department pages to understand what courses are being taught and what research is going on at a particular university.
- Cost factor:Take a look at the fees the university charges. If you think you cannot afford it, there is no point in applying there even if you think you might get admission there. Apply only to those universities where you can afford to go.
- Be realistic: You need to understand that wherever you do your masters from, you are NOT going to get a red carpet welcome, neither by the department where you are doing your masters or nor by companies where you would apply for jobs after graduation. There is competition and you will have to face it. So be prepared to perform well during your masters and put in efforts towards your job search.
And finally a question that we get asked often is “How many universities should I apply to”? Our answer to that is ‘7 to 8 universities”. Applying costs you money, so ideally we recommend you to apply to not more than 8 universities, perhaps 10 on the higher side.
Jothsna is the co-founder of Academy One, a career guidance and study abroad counseling venture. Prior to founding Academy One in 2005, Jothsna worked as an IT and business consultant with companies like Motorola and Trajen Inc. in the USA. She holds an engineering degree in computer science from Andhra University and a MS from the University of Texas. She also received her MBA from the Mays Business School at Texas A&M University, USA.