The Best University For Your Teenager

I have worked in education for over 15 years and people often ask me: “What is the best university for my child?” This is an important question and it bears repeating that no two teenagers are the same.

Do you remember when you were 16 or 18? When you went to university, did you know ahead of time where you would be in life, at the age of 40 or 50? Of course not. So in order to be successful we have to approach this question of going to university as a life stage. It’s a part of your child’s journey, and we have to value it for the journey itself, as much as for the end result (i.e., the diploma and future career prospects).

Your child is, first and foremost, his or her own individual human being. You wouldn’t buy them clothes that don’t fit them; so, likewise, since they are the ones going on this journey to university, they have to be the ones who are happy there, wherever it is they are going. Going away to university is a giant leap in your child’s becoming a full-grown, independent adult. It’s perfectly fine for them to make mistakes, since we all learn through making our own mistakes.

In order for teenagers to grow as a human beings, ideally they should be the ones choosing where to continue studying, with some help (advice, input, suggestions) from the older people around them, like parents, and relatives. You can best help your teenager become independent by helping them research and figure out where they think they will be happiest.

This process of hands-off assistance requires you to both empathize with your child and to value their social and emotional learning to the utmost.

The best university for your teenager is one that they have chosen, where they think they can learn the skills for a career of their choosing.