Should I choose a safer university or aim for one that is harder to enter?
Rather than choosing solely by difficulty, prioritize the fit with your desired field of study, future goals, commuting and costs, while also considering your realistic chance of admission. You can treat a slightly harder university as an aspirational choice, but combining it with options where admission is realistically possible usually preserves more alternatives.
Key points
- Compare the faculty and course content, commuting, costs, and learning environment—not only the university’s difficulty.
- Do not limit your applications to aspirational choices; include options that match your current academic level and the relevant admissions format.
- Use mock-exam assessments, past papers, and application requirements to review your combination of choices regularly.
Things to check
- Admission chances, subjects, and requirements vary by university, faculty, admissions method, and academic year, so check the latest official information.
- A university considered easier to enter still does not guarantee admission.