One of the most confusing aspects of deciding which colleges to apply to is choosing the country. Most students think about applying to the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom or Australia. However, there are also several prestigious universities in other parts of the world, including Maastricht University in the Netherlands, University of Tokyo in Japan, National University of Singapore, Sorbonne Universiteˊ in Paris and Tsinghua University in China.

While you might not immediately want to apply to universities in other parts of the world, there are several factors that may be compelling you to do so.

1. Costs

No surprise here. Studying at some universities can be cheaper because the cost of living in such cities is not as high as others.

2. Culture

Moving to a different part of the world can be an easier process when you are drawn to their way of life. If they eat food similar to you or have an interesting accommodation, all these can be factors to consider.

3. Distance

If you live in India, moving to the United States means moving across the globe, however you can also consider colleges in countries closer to home, making the commute back and forth cheaper and easier.

4. Competition

Getting into Harvard University is worth aiming towards. However, you can also always choose countries where the number of students applying is lesser, giving you a better chance at scoring admissions there.

5. Future prospects

Applying to universities in London, allows you to imagine securing work after your course is over. Similarly, you can look at various cities across the globe where you could easily secure work after your education. Perhaps a city with less competition as compared to London and New York?

Having said that, if University of Pennsylvania is your dream university, strive towards it without any fear. There are lots of things you can do to improve your application and secure admissions in the best of universities across the world. It is important though to keep an open mind and analyse a variety of options. Don’t get stuck on one specific course at a specific college, leaving you scrambling if you are not able to secure admission there. Always have a backup plan and think about your future in detail. Which country fills all the five criteria listed above, for you? If it’s the United States, then remember the qualifications you need to get there and start working towards it.