Continuing Your Education: 5 Things to Think About Before Going Back to School

Author: Olivia Compton

Olivia holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts from the University of Toronto where she specialised in History and minored in Canadian Studies. Olivia is currently a Masters in Global Affairs candidate in a joint program from the University of Prince Edward Island, Canada and Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Spain. Olivia's main area of interest is in international defence and security. Olivia is also the Co-Editor-in-Chief of the Global Affairs Review.

When I first started thinking about doing a Masters, I found all of the options a little overwhelming. As someone who has a wide range of interests, the process of narrowing it down to just a few places to apply was rather daunting. 

Going back to university is a big decision. Two important questions to consider are: why do I want to go back to school? And what do I want to get out of it? Once you’ve figured out your reasons, it’s time to figure out exactly what you want to study. This can be an intimidating question but it’s not necessarily something that must be decided to begin your search. You might be lucky enough to know exactly what you want to pursue when going back to school. If you’re like me, you may know a general area of interest or you may have a variety of interests that you are considering which is okay, too! 

So how are you meant to make these big decisions? Well, here are my top tips on how to find the right programme for you and how to find the right school!

Finding the Right Programme For You

You might already have an idea of which programme you want to study but if you don’t then here are some tips that might help you:

Is the course a good fit for me?

Ask your friends or classmates if they know of or have been in a programme that would appeal to you. You can also talk to your professors, past and present -- they can be amazing sources of information and can often provide suggestions as to programmes that they know about or have connections with. You can also use LinkedIn to find schools or programmes that might interest you.

Contacting students who are currently in or have graduated from the programme can be invaluable and can give you an insight into the programme that you might not find anywhere else. Programmes might also have Facebook groups you can join, or you can use Linkedin to find current students of the programme. When considering courses, you should also read about the modules the programme offers, how many choices you’ll get over modules, and what the requirements to complete the programme are.

Do I meet the programme’s requirements?

Look at the programme’s requirements and check if you meet them. This can often include language requirements, both within the programme and also where you’ll be living. If, for example, the programme requires you to complete a test in a certain language, look into the test and its components. Be realistic with yourself if that isn’t something you think you’ll be able to complete successfully then it just means that that programme isn’t the one for you! Also, be sure to check that your undergraduate degree and your academic standing meets the programme's entrance requirements. 

GIF FROM the film “LEGALLY BLONDE” OF ELLE ASKING “WHAT, like it’s hard?”

Finding the Right School For You

Where do I want to live?

It’s very easy when beginning your search to get excited by the prestige and location of a programme’s institution. When I was considering doing a Masters, I found it easy to get drawn towards programmes in some of the world's major cities like London and New York City. In my case I ended up getting to live in two cities, Charlottetown, Canada, and Madrid, Spain, so in many ways, I got the best of both worlds. Also, be sure to look into visa requirements early on in the process if you’re looking into studying abroad. It is always a good idea to get these things sorted sooner rather than later. Especially if, like me, you don’t speak the language of your host country and you may need to find someone to help you translate documents.

How much can I afford to spend?

While living abroad can look very appealing, it might be cheaper to study closer to home. When beginning your search it’s very helpful to figure out what’s financially within your means. Looking at the duration of the programmes, where they’re located and the cost of the programme are all important things to consider when making your decision. Only you can make this decision and, while there are often scholarships available, it’s something that you must take into careful consideration when selecting where you would like to complete your degree. Having this information in advance of your search can help to find the right programme for you. 

What’s the school like as a whole? 

Does it seem like a place you would like to spend the next few years of your life? Look into what sort of facilities are offered by the school and if the school has any clubs or organisations that you would like to join. While these may not be key deciding factors they can greatly affect your experience during your time at the school. Make sure to take into account the city, the culture, the language, and the actual area around where the school is located. 

Finally, the best piece of advice I can give is to be patient and be persistent, this process takes time. Going back to school is an investment in yourself, you want to make sure you are making an informed decision that you will be happy with. This means that the more time you put into the research process, the more likely you’ll be happy with your decision.

Edited by Ashvini Rae

Published 21st July 2020