Educational resources, professional network, high-level teaching staff, infrastructure, community life, environment… So many criteria which can guide your choice of a school and which cannot be reduced to simple reputation!
It is not always easy for some students to clearly explain the real motivations that led them to choose one school over another. Educational excellence does not always govern their aspirations. Quite the contrary.
Certainly there are quality criteria choosing the right school which are authentic, but for many of them, once the competition has passed, other elements of comparison will come into play. The fact is that not everyone can join HEC or Polytechnique .
There are many reasons to take advantage of your student years both personally and professionally.It is therefore up to you to find the school that best suits your professional project .
Don’t miss a unique opportunity to come and meet the biggest business & management schools, the biggest engineering schools but also the CPGE (preparatory classes for the Grandes Ecoles) and the joint competitions that lead to them! To do this, go to the Salon Studyrama des Grandes Écoles organized in Paris this weekend.
A unique opportunity to discover the establishments and interact with directors, professors and students to ask them all your questions!
Educational means
In addition to a faculty and quality teaching and research activities, schools provide material resources far superior to those of universities: well-appointed premises, computer equipment, language laboratories, sports facilities, libraries and databases. … Tuition fees , sometimes high, allow them to afford the best existing logistics.
The atmosphere and quality of life
c yuri arcurs fotolia.com 3Quality of life is an important criterion. Aiming for ESC Pau or Estia Bidart because you practice surfing intensely is not fanciful. Between air, water, snow and earth, Grenoble École de management and the Grenoble INP schools “without complexes” attract fans of skiing and new technologies.
Some students will feel more comfortable on a small campus , others will feel the need to work near a big city . Some will opt for a given location because of its proximity to their family home, others will be sensitive to the general atmosphere that reigns on campus. s.
Regional economic dynamism
Few candidates take this into account, but regional positioning, such as the economic environment and industrial partnerships of a school are also important criteria. They are decisive in educational developments and have an impact on internships or work-study and apprenticeship opportunities , employment and teaching. All schools maintain close relationships with territorial stakeholders ( local authorities, CCI, etc.). Other schools develop their training based on their border positioning (Franco-Spanish, Franco-Germanic, etc.).
A leading community life
david buttner fotolia.cLess important at first glance, the associative life of a school is in reality essential. Immersing yourself in the extracurricular activities of an establishment often proves to be very enriching and educational. Students who engage in associative activities alongside their training (BDE, sport, junior enterprise, solidarity, culture, etc.) can thus realize their passion and use their knowledge within the framework of ambitious projects. Also note that recruiters are very sensitive to students who have participated in the community life of their school .
Other criteria for choosing
Finally, job opportunities, professional integration or “employability” of schools, the educational and geographical origin of students, the possibilities for continuing their studies, the educational conditions (predominance of lectures in lecture halls or courses in small sections ), the effectiveness of the alumni network, international exchanges , the school environment (premises, geographical location, transport, catering, accommodation, etc.) are also criteria to take into account when choosing a school .
Any last advice?
Meet the schools directly at the orientation fairs , chat with the students. Like you, they have experienced the same concerns, the same questions, the same hesitations. Then, if possible, try to go there. It is important to be able to “take in the atmosphere” of the places where you will study f