MOVING AWAY TO STUDY: Tips for Students and Parents

Helping you decide Where
EALLINA PRADHAN

Determine where you want to study:
So assuming that parent-child have come to a conclusion as to what the child seeks to be in the future, providing a platform which allows the student to explore his capabilities in the field is evident. Finding a college which will not only provide this platform but also take care of your child’s development while away from home is mandatory, which brings us to the admission process and screening for the right institute and college. The myth is that if you go to the best rated college possible it increases the likelihood of a more successful career or a better life.
But what do we mean by career success – amount of money earned or happiness with what one does, prizes won, public recognition. The list goes on. If it’s money you’re after, which college you choose means the least? If it’s a Nobel Prize, then college choice may be more of a factor. So have an open ended conversation with your parents about your goals, so together you can figure out that one place that suits your criteria and serves your need which probably might not be the most expensive one. You don’t have to go to the highest-rated school possible.

# Do you want a large university or a small college?
Finally here are some pointers you can use to evaluate in general to refine your search and to drive to a conclusion while choosing a college that is right for you:
• Degrees offered
• Majors/minors
• Location (rural or urban area)/distance from home
• Size of the student population (from small at 1,000 to large at 35,000+)
• Public vs. private
• Costs (tuition, room and board, etc.)
• Campus resources (labs, libraries, computer access, hospitals etc.)
• Placement success/internship and co-op programs
• Accreditation
• Faculty contact/classes taught by full-time doctoral qualified faculty
• Quality/reputation/ranking (keeping in mind the report for at least the last 3-5 years)
• Degree of pressure to excel
• Safety (campus, community)
• Student body (diversity etc.)
• Social life (sports, school spirit, extracurricular etc. Apart from your academics it is important to unwind and socialize by participating, so you will know your mates better and will keep you active and focused)
• Housing options (dorms, apartments, living at home)
• Realistic entry expectations (If you are not accepted at some college don’t let disappointment surround you, what are options for, always keep your mind open)

[ABOUT THE WRITER:
Eallina Pradhan is the founder of “Innovate”. Innovate, she explains, is not just a company or an organization- it is a road to “Access” and “Guidance”. 
This is how she introduces Innovate:
“Having spent my last 9 years in Bangalore I realized that the admission process for our students of Sikkim has become a time-consuming, highly stressful process for both parents and students, keeping in mind the high donations and broker fees and the struggle with the local language and connectivity at first. Looking at these things always troubled me a great deal and was always keen to do something about it.
At Innovate, we are trying to educate people about the pros and cons involved in the process and guiding students to make a career choice as well as helping them evaluate the college they want to study in, while offering options keeping in mind the budget and career choice of the student.
Also making sure that we keep a tab of a students’ progress even after they start attending college as well and keep parents informed about their child’s progress, providing relief to parents while their children are away from home.
Providing guidance and admission with no service fees.”]