College Selection

College Selection Criteria

What makes a college good is ultimately in the eye of a student. Choose the institution of your choice based on your criteria.  At CollegesinOntario.com we rank the colleges in Ontario based on academics (Refer to the page here).  Some Colleges are not academically driven, and you may wish to look at other criteria to judge them.   We ask that you be the architect of your own future.

Below is a list of common College attributes. 

There are many criteria one should consider when choosing a college including:

1.  College Reputation

Is the prospective school well-known worldwide? Attending a school with a good reputation lends itself to initial employment.  Once the years pass after graduation, experience and your reputation will supersede your school’s reputation…but this takes time.   Going to a good school helps.

2. College Equipment/Resources

Determine if your prospective school has the equipment to teach you the subject matter appropriately.

3. Quality of Professors/Teachers/Instructors

The Quality of Professors/Teachers/Instructors is one aspect which makes a degree college good or bad. Many of the degree colleges in Ontario have Nobel Prize winning PhDs on the floor.  Determine if a prospective college is academically good via teacher credentials and research being conducted.  Do you think it would be valuable to learn from them?

If you are thinking of attending a non-academically focused institution (i.e. community college) or a private college this may be less important. Maybe you are studying a trade/skill which is purely hands-on.  Then determine if the instructor(s) knows the trade or skill.

4. Course of Study

What do you want to take?  Does the prospective college offer such a program?  Are student reviews of the program favorable?

5. Co-Op

Does the school you wish to attend offer work placements as part of their curriculum? This can be a fantastic way to earn money and also make yourself employable.  Gain experience while studying.

The Ontario Tech University is a university which focuses as being hands-on and offers a multitude of Co-Op programs.

6. On-Campus Living/Off Campus Living

Do you want to live on campus or off campus?  What is the availability and the cost of accommodation at your prospective college?

7. Sororities and Fraternities

Interested in joining a Sorority and Fraternity?  Some colleges have them.  Some colleges don’t. Take a look into this at your prospective college.

8. Location

Some students want the city life and also want a multicultural institution while other students may prefer to be in the outback with nature.  Ontario Colleges can offer both experiences…just not at the same location.  Big cities offer big attractions.  Northern Ontario Colleges offers big outdoor experiences.

9. Campus Amenities

Amenities include stores, restaurants, bars etc.  Larger institutions have more amenities on-campus while smaller institutions force you to go off-campus.

10. Dining

Some Colleges offer high class dining experiences in vaulted historic halls.  Some colleges have cafeteria dining where you slide a plastic tray across steel bars and pay at a cashier.  Consider also cost here.

11. Extracurricular Activities

These activities may include clubs associated with a field of study, recreational sports, and volunteer groups, and sororities/fraternities. Once again larger institutions may offer more choices, but can also be intimidating and less personable.

12. Sports Programs and Facilities

What does your college offer in the way of fitness facilities?  What sports programs does it offer?  Can you get a scholarship?

13. Campus Safety

Is your prospective college safe?  This is worth googling for your prospective college(s).

14. Social Life and Parties

Partying at colleges is a way to relive stress after exams.  A vent if you will.  Some Colleges have established social life and parties (more on this page.)

15. College Demographics

Many schools publish demographic information, such as gender, race, and religion. Typically big cities have greater diversity within their colleges. Consider the demographics of Toronto.

16. Transportation

Is public transit available at your prospective college?  Do they offer college shuttle buses.  How will you get around.  Where do you want to go? How can you get there?

17. Religious attributes

Many colleges in Ontario have religious affiliations.  Examples include the following two colleges.

Trinity College – Anglican

St. Micheal’s College – Catholic

18. Overall Cost

Community Colleges offer a cheaper tuition, Degree Colleges cost more with the prospect to have higher earnings potential.  Refer to this page.

19. Financial Aid

Some schools are more likely to hand out student aid than others in the form of bursaries and grants. Most colleges have programs to help students. Loans are available through OSAP to those in need.  Working through college is a great way to get out and meet new friends while reliving the stress of academic pursuits. See our student jobs here.

An example financial aid program is the one at the University of Toronto.