You have some experience choosing between universities from when you were deciding on what undergraduate programs to apply for. However, selecting the right grad school involves quite different considerations. To reduce the stress of narrowing down all the possibilities to several top choices, there are a few things you should do.

1. Consider Your Career Ambitions

The classes you take at grad school will have a specific focus. It’s crucial to choose a program with a curriculum that’s relevant to your career goals. Most importantly, the classes should adequately prepare you for the research you want to undertake. You can often find out if this is the case by reading about what kinds of research the faculty members are involved in.

2. Decide Where in the Country You Want to Be

If you’re graduating with a bachelor’s degree and going straight to grad school, another move may not be a big deal. However, if you’re returning to education after a few years, it could be a major life change to move to another part of the country. In this case, you may like to find a university close to where you currently live.

In addition, it may be worth thinking about whether there are more opportunities in your field in a certain area of the country. The people you meet at graduate school could be valuable connections later. Furthermore, you may increase your chances of finding a job or internship while studying if you’re in the right part of the country.

3. Compare Costs

The cost of graduate programs varies widely from one school to another. In addition, some programs only allow you to use certain types of financial aid to pay for your education. If figuring out how to pay for school is an issue, find out if you may be able to find work through a teaching or research assistantship or if you could receive a scholarship. Often, there are more benefits available if you did your undergraduate degree at the same university, but opportunities may open up later — once your professors have had the chance to get to know you, for instance.

4. Learn About the Reputation of the School

Beyond considering the reputation of the university as a whole, consider if the faculty for your subject is highly regarded. Receiving a master’s degree from a prestigious university will help your resume stand out that much more.

5. Stay Open Minded

Being overly selective is also a risk. If you find yourself dismissing so many options that you end up with just one or two schools you’d like to apply for, you need to bear in mind that this will decrease your odds of being accepted by any program at all. By all means, rank your choices and have a dream school in mind, but don’t rule out multiple programs for minor reasons — you could overlook a great option.

Selecting the right university for you is just the start — you also need to figure out where you’ll live. For uOttawa student housing, the answer is simple: THEO is just steps away from campus. You’ll receive everything you need to make your time at grad school perfect. For instance, you’ll have access to some great amenities, including co-working and study spaces, hangout areas, and a basketball court. Book your onsite visit.