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How to Choose a university inside or outside the Kingdom?

choose your university

How to Choose a university inside or outside the Kingdom?

It is a crossroad

The high school years are now gone and you have your certificate, you need to choose a university that will affect your life and career for the next years to come.

Let us try to help you out with taking this decision that keeps you thinking and rethinking for a very long time!

Relax and take a deep breath

Firstly, celebrate and give yourself the credit for passing the high school years successfully regardless of the grades.

Choose a university is not a life-changing decision. Your life and your career are not linked to one single high school grade.

Even if you joined a university, you can always twist, change and modify your goals anytime. It is important, however, to think thoroughly to pick the appropriate college/university as to be the starting point of your life journey but not as a “no returning decision”!

Inside or outside?

This answer will determine what is next!

Do you plan to study abroad or in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia?

Living and study abroad are related to the finances of your family during the university years, if this applies to your case then you need to separate between living abroad tips and picking the right university that we will tackle in this guide.

Your ability to adapt to living abroad will affect your academic performance. Being far from home, family and friends might keep you nostalgic. You need to consider this if you are settled to study abroad.

Inside the kingdom, however, there are more than 40 private and national universities that cover all majors and subjects.

How to determine? Science or Art!

Maybe you have already decided on this in high school but you still have another chance before you choose a university.

Are you into science? Do read science books? Are you interested in science documentaries?

Do you read fiction? Are you attached to stories? Films? Have you ever tried to draw?

The sum of these answers will help you re-determine your tendency before moving on to the next step of your decision-making process.

Another look in the mirror

Be true to yourself, know your capabilities and your limits. We are all different when it comes to IQ, mental readiness, and genetics.

It could be that your aspiration is higher/lower than your capabilities, the university you want to join might be inappropriate to your capabilities. It is only you who can determine what you can/cannot do.

You can, however, use your grades and IQ test as starting points to assess yourself.

Do the research

This is related to your self-assessment. Reading about the university/college you want to join will give insight into the difficulty level of the major required, the university grading system, and the curriculum.

As part of the research, talk to graduates, post-graduates, and current students they will give you another in-depth view into the place that will not be found anywhere. Listen carefully even to failure, this is exactly what you search for.

Your talent

It is the gift, this unique skill that makes you different. It could be musical, artistic, or even solving out a math equation.

Try to ask yourself “What makes me special?” “What is this one thing that I do without feeling the time passing?”

Try to explore it even with the help of others if needed. It is very important to match this gift to your field of study from the very beginning.

Love is an answer again

Love is linked to your gift. In most cases what you love is your “gift”. If you love what you study this will make it easier for you to succeed with the least effort. If this “gift” is not found yet, try to dig for it as it is within you.

Ask yourself:

Do I love languages? Then languages are my gift…

Do I like math equations? Go for engineering…

Do you love stories (reading and maybe writing)? Then I am into literature!

Your overall grades are a crucial factor in case you will join a local university, but private universities offer great opportunities to support your “loved” major/subject to be your field of study.

Think again, what do you love?

The job market

Firstly, you need to know that the university certificate is not directly related to the job market that is already full of successful people who never studied what they are good at in the university. They learn it afterward by reading, courses, and experience.

It is, however, ideal to combine both your major and your future job. So, thinking about your dream job can be a good starting point to think about the university major you want to take.

Jobs in the field of IT will urge you to study the IT field as early as in your university years. If your dream job is to be a salesperson, businessman, marketing …etc. You will need to think about studying business and so on.

Start from the end “what my future dream job would be?”

Remember that you can always shift your career later, but for now, you need to start.

The parents

They are part of the process and will have their input. Listen to them patiently and know that their intentions are good but talk to them about the fact that it is your decision. Explain the facts that it is more related to your preferences, talent, and capabilities rather than any social reasons related to “top majors” medicine or engineering…. etc.

Grab a pen and a paper

Divide the page into two parts. On the right side write down a shortlist of the universities you are interested in (five are enough). On the left side write four or five factors that you will depend on based on what you read here. Your gifts, capabilities, and preferences should be all included.

Start excluding from the list till you end up with one or two choices. Now you can share it with family and friends.

After you collect the feedback, take your decision alone.

One last word

Whatever your choice would be, the university years are more important than the major. It is the real beginning of your journey to attain your dreams. Indulge yourself in activities. They might be artistic, social, or even sports. Join a charity organization. Find a job while you study or enroll in a language or computer course.

Invest in yourself early, your life begins with the first year in the university- enjoy it.