Should I care more about current student life or future career outcomes?
Rather than always prioritizing one over the other, consider both your future goals and the kind of university life in which you can learn and grow. Employment outcomes and the substance of the education matter for future options, but classes, activities, relationships, health, and commuting conditions also affect whether you can study consistently and develop. Compare universities by balancing the learning and career support you need with a daily life you can accept and sustain.
Key points
- Check the curriculum, qualifications, practical learning, and career support relevant to your intended path.
- Look beyond an overall employment rate and examine how outcomes are presented for the relevant faculty or department.
- Compare workload, activities, commuting, costs, and student support to judge whether the environment is sustainable for you.
Things to check
- Employment outcomes and student-life conditions vary by university, faculty or department, and academic year, so check current official information and, where possible, attend information sessions.