While previously, the only way to know information about a potential university was through people you know or the university’s website, there is now a never-ending list of ways wherein you can learn more. In this article, we’ll discuss how you make this crucial decision using LinkedIn.
1. Inquire Requirements With University Admission Officers
If you want to get in touch with someone who knows exactly what the universities are looking for in their next batch of applicants, speaking with admissions officers can be the ticket.
University admissions officers are frequently the best source for information such as accurate submission deadlines, updated tuition fees, and scholarship opportunities that are specific to someone in your profile.
With thousands of other potential applicants, it’s important to understand how you position yourself during the application process. In addition, it’s good to know beforehand if you’ll be surrounded by like-minded people who study at the universities that you are applying to.
Creating a good early relationship with a potential admissions officer doesn’t just increase your chances of getting into your choice of university. By adding admissions officers, you can also grow your reach on LinkedIn.
With this, even if you don’t decide to apply to that university, you can still put yourself on their radar for potential students who have shown both interest and initiative. Keeping these relationships may be useful if you decide to apply for further studies in the future.
2. Search for Alumni Success Stories
One of the most telling things about a university’s ability to give you opportunities is the strength of its alumni network. Typically, an alumni network’s strength depends on how successful its alumni is and how active it is in opening up opportunities for the next generation.
For employers, a strong alumni network reflect a history of quality education. In fact, companies more likely to hire people from universities wherein they have a good track record of hiring individuals who have a good work ethic and fit their company culture.
To find out if the alumni network of your prospective university is strong, you can search on LinkedIn if they have a group for their graduates and how well the group is moderated.
In addition, you can do a general search of the university name on LinkedIn to see where the alumni are currently working. If many of them are in companies, careers, or positions that you wouldn’t mind having in the future, it may be that the university they went to can help you get there.
3. Stalk Potential Professors
If you are curious about the quality of education of a university, it may merit stalking some potential professors of your program first. Often, professors make up a lot of your university experience, so it is important to understand the background of those who will be responsible for your education.
Aside from their background, it is also good to see their relationship with their past and current students, their work outside the university, and their style of teaching.
To find potential professionals on LinkedIn, you can search for “Professor at [University Name]” on the search bar. Then, sort through those who are listed as professors under the program of your choosing through their LinkedIn headlines or work history.
Afterward, you can view their work experience, posts, or even search existing online lectures they have published on other websites like YouTube, Coursera, and so on.
4. Get a Feel of Opportunities on and Near the Campus
Location can make a critical difference in your overall satisfaction with your university experience. After all, you’ll spend many years there when completing your degree.
Aside from personal preference of being located in a bustling city or a quiet town, location also comes with access to other opportunities outside the university, such as networking, internships, and job opportunities.
In numerous instances, companies prefer to hire people that already live in the same area. Not only is it more likely that they will be able to participate in an in-person interview, but there are also fewer barriers to make them work right away.
To know about the various opportunities that may be available to you during and after your university experience, you can search the location of your university on LinkedIn.
Afterward, you can browse all the companies which are based in the area and have a look at the internships and jobs being offered. If possible, you can read a few job postings to see if the degree you are planning to take matches the opportunities which are available.
5. Ask Current Students About Their Experiences
For prospective students who are looking to study internationally or out of state, LinkedIn can be a great way to inquire with current students with similar backgrounds regarding their experience.
Whether it is finding a place to live, applying for visas, or scholarships, current students will know insider details that you should be aware of. By asking someone who underwent the process recently, you can also get an idea about how long it takes to prepare for your prospective university.
While alumni, recruiters, and potential professors will have their own agendas, current students have more incentive to be transparent about the ups and downs of their university life. You are likely going to hear stories about what it’s like specific to being a student.
To find current students studying at your prospective university, you can search the name of the school and look at the Education section of their LinkedIn Profile. Then, find the profiles which indicate that they have not officially graduated yet.
Find the Right University for You
As with many things in life, there’s no one perfect university for everyone. Because there are thousands of potential universities are out there, it’s important to take the time to search which ones you should target.
A great university doesn’t just offer quality education, but it should also give you access to opportunities during and afterward. Whether it’s to apply for further studies or get a good job, all universities will have their strengths and weaknesses. It’s up to you to decide which ones match your needs.
Thankfully, through LinkedIn, you can get to know about its current students, alumni, and people who make decisions about what kind of students they are willing to accept.
