Picking the right university is a daunting task for most high school students, one that involves a few sleepless nights and hours spent in your high school's guidance office.
To help answer a few questions along the way, we asked three guidance counsellors to share their insights: Cathy Pearce of Seycove Secondary Community School in Deep Cove, B.C., Ted Blackbourn of Turner Fenton Secondary School in Brampton, Ont., and Nevin Jackson of Cobequid Educational Centre in Truro, N.S.
What's more important: the university or the program? Should a university's ranking play a role?
Cathy Pearce: I will always advise students that finding the program that suits them best is the ultimate goal whether this is at the top or the bottom of the current days ranking. If the student enrolls in a program that is good for them, they will probably do well personally and contribute to the campus as well.
Ted Blackbourn: An appropriate postsecondary choice cannot be made on the basis of rankings. If a university is to be a "good fit" with a student, many factors need to be considered — factors that will vary from one student to another.
Nevin Jackson: The integrity and track record of the program is more important than the ranking of the university.
Should parents and students try to meet people involved in program during the application process? Will that enhance chances of getting into a limited enrolment program?
CP: I always strongly encourage students to visit the various campuses that they are considering, to get a feel for the place. Some campuses just feel better than others and, of course, this varies from individual to individual. If they have a chance to speak to people in the program, that is a bonus. They will get a better idea about what it is they are going to be studying and a variety of other information so that the transition can be made more smoothly. If students are chosen to the program based solely on grade-point average, then visiting people ahead of time will not have an impact on getting in. If admission is based on a variety of other factors or on efforts to find the most suited candidates to the program, then meeting the people involved can be helpful. Students can find out what they are looking for in the application, how they like the application to be presented and what kind of experiences and qualities they are looking for.
TB: We encourage students and parents to visit universities during the application process. These visits provide opportunities to speak with instructors and students and to explore the campus. It is important for students to feel comfortable in a university setting. However, I do not believe that the purpose of a campus visit is to try to influence the admissions committee.
NJ: Some postsecondary institutions are becoming more interested in the student's background beyond their academic abilities and meeting school officials in person can be helpful to both the student and the admissions officers.
How important is physical environment? Does an enclosed campus provide a better experience?
CP: In a nutshell, students will create the quality of the university experience they have by what they put in to it. If a student chooses to go to the 'best' university in the land, enclosed or not, and chooses only to go to class, study and write exams, with little effort or interest to exchange with others on campus, their university experience will be pretty bleak.
TB: The visit should be about finding a "good fit" between student and university. It is impossible to say that one particular physical environment provides a "better" experience than another. The needs of the student will determine whether or not a university setting is an effective learning environment.
