Does University Ranking Matter?
Most probably when you are in your final year of engineering or looking to pursue higher education abroad after few years in the corporate, the first thing that comes to our mind is “ I need to get into a top ranked university!” This may be a good way to set your ambition high and push to get the best possible university but there are always good universities which you have not heard about.
These small universities may not be famous specially in India and people may not talk about it like the big guns which everyone knows about, but these small universities is where there are more scholarship options along with research and on-campus employment opportunities.
Generally, the top universities which we hear are either too good in terms of coursework and accolades which makes people around the world know about them or the way they are marketing themselves on online platforms and tie-ups with overseas education consultancies who tend to recommend these universities to prospective students, so personal research is extremely important which includes knowing more about the program and coursework and trying to connect with current and previous students.
On the other hand, the biggest plus with top ranked universities is the alumni network and tie-ups with top companies in the country. You may not have a lot of scholarship opportunities unless you are someone who has a lot to showcase in front of the admission panel but if you are willing to pay a premium in terms of tuition to get into these universities, you would most likely end up with a decent job but of course with the necessary efforts.
So, we can conclude by saying:
- Top universities might be perfect for networking and utilizing a well established network but generally comes with a premium price.
- The Universities which are not that big could get you a high percentage of scholarship but job search might be a little tough as you as an individual need to ramp up the efforts to land job your dreams.
Decision is yours, choose wisely as this is a crucial step in your career!
Good Luck!
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