College marks a special phase in life, and it is for this reason that both students  and parents ought to be cautious when choosing which higher learning institution to enroll.

It should also be emphasised that students don’t necessarily have to go to the ‘most popular’ institution to get a great education and a good job after graduation. With more than 25 colleges, integrated polytechnic regional centres and higher learning institutions in Rwanda, there are many options from which college-bound students can choose. However, many tend to rely on image recognition as a measure of a good college, rather than using other tools at their disposal to find other institutions that may better fit a student’s needs. And normally, what is best for the student depends a lot on their personality and academic goals.

Emmy Kangwenge, a first-year student of business administration at the College of Business and Economics, Gikondo campus, says some of his colleagues were influenced by the name, legacy and peer pressure in selecting the institution where to pursue higher studies.

"Many are influenced by names and peers, but you need to be critical of your own life; you have to take the right way to your destiny. A college determines your career, so it has to be chosen very carefully,” he says.

"Personally, I identified my abilities and talents first. Having done history, economics and geography at high school, I loved business and economics. Fortunately, I applied and was admitted at the College of Business and Economics,” Kangwege adds.

He, however, says there are other factors that he considered while choosing the college.

"Apart from my personal abilities and aspirations, location of the college, studying hours and financial factors, among others, also influenced my decision,” he says.

Paul Dusengimana, a resident of Mushubi village in Nyamagabe District, who helps some children with school fees and other scholastic materials, says a parent is always key in the choice of the college no matter what teachers and other academic advisers offer.

"A young individual may still be clueless about professional development. Your guidance and experience will be invaluable in this situation. Financial, practical and academic factors should be considered in the selection of the college. The most important thing to remember is that your child should be the one making the decision. As a parent, you are responsible for making sure that it is the right one. Being overly involved or adamant about the student’s opinions could lead to dissatisfaction later on,” he noted.

Samueal Nkurunziza, the head teacher of Kagarama Secondary School in Kigali, says the biggest part in selection process should be played by students and teachers.

"To succeed in college, it is best to go in knowing what subjects or general areas you are interested in pursuing. Students who perform best tend to be go-getters who are not afraid to speak up and take advantage of the many opportunities available,” he noted

"The first step should be taken by both the teacher and student, simply because they are always together. A good teacher, who also acts as an educational adviser, knows very well what the student is interested in, and some students know what they want to be in future. However, putting in consideration the academic capacity of the student should count a lot in selecting a college,” he adds.

Nkurunziza says parents also have to participate in their children’s growth.

"Unfortunately, we normally don’t have career counsellors in schools, but we always take time to talk to students and get to know what their interests and academic goals are. Although some students come from illiterate families, there is always a contribution a parent can make, especially at an early age,” he explains.

Oyiengo Karen, a lecturer in the department of humanities and languages at UR’s College of Education, believes that the popularity of a particular college counts during the selection process.

"The popularity or how big the institution is may count in the choice of the university. Big universities, for instance, offer a wide range of courses, ranging from televised sporting events to countless degree programmes. They also have well-stocked libraries, a wide range of student activities and research facilities, which all attract students to them. With the diversity in such institutions, students are assured of meeting their academic goals,” she says.