Choosing the right university and course

The answer to these questions is in your hands, but at Regents we encourage a collaborative effort between you, your parents/guardians and the school's specialist teachers. We have strong relationships with many notable universities around the world, such as The University of Melbourne, Australia, The University of British Colombia, Canada, London School of Economics and Political Science, and many more. Representatives from these universities come to Thailand to meet you and our Universities Advisor. In addition, The Thinking Futures section of our unique Global Classroom is at your disposal.

Here are some important factors which we encourage you to take into account:

• Aiming as high as possible is worthwhile but so too is being realistic. The school runs off-campus workshops for students, which aim to help them in the process of self-discovery: what is it that you are good at, what do you enjoy, what sets you up well for the future... and can all of those elements be matched up?
• It can be difficult to accurately predict your final IB or IGCSE marks. Because of this, choosing a university and an appropriate course within that institution is not easy. However, having an open discussion with your teachers and guardian(s) will help you develop a more realistic view on what can be achieved. You need to have the best possible opportunity of continuing higher education somewhere that suits you well.
• Doing as much research on the courses that may interest you is incredibly important. Getting an idea about the way in which your possible courses are operated, who the lecturers are and what the likelihood is of securing employment after completion are all important factors. For most of the population, university can be very expensive so making the right decision becomes even more crucial.
• Cost plays a large part in what universities a student can attend. Without a scholarship, American institutions are incredibly expensive. Although British tertiary institutions are cheaper, price varies depending on the course taken and the prestige of the university itself. Students are encouraged to apply for as many scholarships as possible. This practice can ease the burden of cost, but your family should not rely on this. Be prepared for annual fees.
• How do you operate under pressure? If you thought secondary examinations were tough, well think again. At university, there is more focus on independent learning and less of a safety net if you find yourself in difficulty. Finding out how a university course is assessed needs to be in the back of your mind. Does that style of assessment suit you?
• Are you an introvert or an extrovert? Some universities have an excellent student body that has active societies to help students make friends and enjoy life outside of the pressure cooker scenario which is university study.
• We also encourage you to ask yourself what kind of person are you socially and the activities you participate in outside of school. Does the university provide for the sports, music and drama you enjoy? 

• Higher Education in the UK & USA: A Guide