Ep 119 - How Do I Choose Between Universities? And Should I Choose the Course or University First?
If you're trying to choose a university, you might find yourself with a problem: you like more than one!
Maybe you've listened to my university series and now you're considering Monash, RMIT, La Trobe, Swinburne, ACU or the University of Melbourne — but you're not sure how to actually decide between them.
Or perhaps you're wondering whether you've got the whole process backwards. Should you choose the university first, or should you choose your course and career first?
In this Q&A episode, I answer these questions and explain the different things you can consider when comparing universities and courses before you make your VTAC preferences.
What we're talking about:
How do I choose between universities if I like more than one?
If you like several universities, the first step isn't necessarily to work out which one is “best”. Instead, think about what you want from your university experience.
We look at some of the factors you might want to consider, including:
the course content and subjects you'll actually study
campus location and size
your commute
student culture
industry connections
work-integrated learning and practical experience
student support services
entry requirements and pathways
The important thing is to work out which factors matter most to you. A university that suits one student extremely well might not be the right fit for another student.
Should I choose the university first, or the course first?
There are two ways you can approach this decision.
If you have a career you're interested in, you can work backwards:
Career → Course → University
This means starting with the type of work you might want to do, finding courses that could lead you there, and then comparing the universities offering those courses.
But there are also students who have a particular reason for wanting to attend a university. Maybe they like the location, campus, student culture, support services or size.
In that situation, you could start with:
University → Course options → Best fit
We look at when each approach can make sense.
What is each university known for?
University reputation can be useful information when you're researching your options, but it's worth looking more closely at what each university actually offers in the area you're interested in.
For example, we discuss some areas in which particular universities have strong associations, including engineering at RMIT and Monash, research and academia at the University of Melbourne, health sciences at La Trobe, and psychology and criminology at Deakin.
But don't choose a university based only on what you've heard about its reputation. Look at the actual course and what you'll be doing as a student.
Which university has the course or combination of courses I want?
If you want to combine areas of study, or you're looking for a particular major, specialisation or course structure, this can be a really useful way to narrow down your options.
Two universities might offer courses in the same broad area but have very different subjects, structures and opportunities.
What if I don't meet the entry requirements?
Entry requirements are another factor to consider when comparing universities.
As well as looking at the selection rank or ATAR for a course, investigate whether there are alternative pathways into the course or university.
Universities including RMIT and Swinburne have pathway options that can provide alternative ways of progressing into further study.
So don't just ask:
“What ATAR do I need?”
Also ask:
“What pathways are available if I don't get the ATAR I need?”
How important are industry connections and practical experience?
For some courses and careers, opportunities to apply what you're learning can be particularly important.
When you're comparing courses, look for opportunities such as:
placements
internships
industry projects
work-integrated learning
clinical experience
on-campus or on-site clinics
professional accreditation
connections with employers and professional organisations
For example, some health courses offer opportunities to gain practical experience through clinics, while Law courses may provide opportunities to work with real clients through legal clinics.
The course that looks most appealing on paper isn't necessarily the one that will give you the type of experience you're looking for, so it's worth investigating the details.
The big question to ask
Rather than asking:
“What's the best university?”
try asking:
“What do I want to prioritise, and which university offers that?”
Your university decision is about more than the university's name. Think about the course, the experience you'll have while you're there, the opportunities available to you and how the course fits into your future career plans.
And if you're making your VTAC preferences, remember that you don't need to find one university that is perfect at everything.
You need to understand what matters to you and then use that information to make an informed choice.
Links mentioned:
University Series
Listen to the university episodes covering:
La Trobe University
Monash University
The University of Melbourne
RMIT University
Australian Catholic University (ACU)
Swinburne University of Technology