Open houses, brochures, and program websites tell you what a school wants you to know. Current students can tell you what it is actually like: the workload, the people, the parts that surprised them, and whether they would choose it again.
Most students never ask. The ones who do usually make better decisions, and feel more confident about them. This guide gives you the questions, how to reach students, and how to make sense of what they tell you.
Before you ask: three quick tips
- Be specific about who you are. "I am in grade 12 in Ontario and deciding between Nursing at two schools" gets a much better answer than "What is your program like?"
- Ask a few, not all 40. Pick the five to eight questions that matter most to you. Students are busy, and a short message gets a reply.
- Ask more than one person. Every student's experience is different. Two or three conversations show you the pattern.
The program and classes
- What does a normal week look like for you?
- How many hours are you in class, and how many do you spend studying on your own?
- Which first year courses are the hardest, and why?
- How big are your classes in first year? Do they get smaller later?
- Do you get to know your professors, or is it hard to get their attention?
- How much group work is there?
- Is the program run as a cohort, where you take most classes with the same group?
- What is one thing about the program you wish were different?
Workload and grades
- How does the workload compare to high school?
- When in the year does it get the hardest?
- Did your grades drop in first year? How much is normal?
- What helped you keep up?
- Is there tutoring, a writing centre, or peer help that actually works?
People and belonging
- How easy was it to make friends in your program?
- Is it competitive, or do students help each other?
- Did you ever feel like you did not fit in? What helped?
- What do students do outside class?
- Which clubs or groups are worth joining?
- Is it easy to meet people if you live off campus or commute?
Living there
- Did you live in residence? Would you do it again?
- Which residence would you choose, and which would you avoid?
- Where do students live after first year? How hard is it to find housing?
- What is the town or city like for students?
- How do you get around? Do you need a car?
Money
- What costs surprised you in first year?
- How much do you spend on textbooks and supplies?
- Do many students work part time during the school year?
- Did you apply for scholarships or bursaries? Any tips?
After graduation
- What do students from your program usually go on to do?
- Does the program include co-op, placements, or research opportunities?
- How much help does the school give with finding jobs or placements?
- Do upper year students seem confident about what comes next?
The honest questions
- Would you choose this program again?
- Would you choose this school again?
- What do you wish you had known before you applied?
- What kind of student does really well here? Who struggles?
- What is the biggest myth about this program?
- If you could change one thing about your first year, what would it be?
- Is there anything you would tell me that the open house will not?
- Is there anyone else I should talk to?
How to talk to current university and college students
Official school chats and student ambassadors are a good start, but they are run by the school. To hear the full picture, talk to students outside official channels too.
- People you already know. Ask friends, siblings, cousins, coaches, and family friends who they know at the schools on your list. One introduction often leads to two more.
- Open houses and campus tours. Student ambassadors are paid to be positive, so ask them the honest questions above and watch how they answer.
- School and program social media. Many programs and student societies have accounts where current students post and answer questions.
- Cohorts. Join the communities for the schools and programs on your list, and message students who are already in them. It is free on iOS and Android.
Cohorts started because our co-founder Maleah spent weeks doing exactly this, one introduction at a time.
How to make sense of the answers
- Look for patterns. One student who loves a program, or hates it, is one experience. Three students saying the same thing is information.
- Separate the program from the person. A student who wanted a different program may be unhappy anywhere. Ask what they would change, not just whether they like it.
- Notice what they get excited about. The parts students talk about without being asked are often the real strengths.
- Write it down. After each conversation, note the two or three things that stood out. It makes comparing programs much easier later.
For other places to check what you hear, see how to find honest program reviews.
Red flags to listen for
- Most students you talk to would not choose the program again
- The first year sounds very different from what the program website describes
- Students describe the program as competitive in a way that sounds unhealthy
- Nobody can tell you what graduates go on to do
- Students struggle to find housing or support, and the school does not seem to help
One red flag is not a dealbreaker. Several together are worth taking seriously.
How to choose a program in Canada · Peer mentorship, coming soon
Frequently asked questions
Is it weird to message a student I do not know?
No. Most students remember how hard it was to choose, and many are happy to help. Keep your message short, say who you are and what you are deciding, and ask two or three specific questions.
How many students should I talk to?
Two or three per program is a good goal. It is enough to see patterns without taking over your life.
What if students give me different answers?
That is normal and useful. Different answers usually mean the experience depends on the person. Ask each student what kind of student they think does best there.
Should I ask about grades and admission averages?
You can, but current students may not know recent admission averages. Check the school's admissions page for those, and ask students about the workload instead.
Where can I find students in a specific program?
Start with people you know and the program's social media. On Cohorts, you can join the community for a specific program and message students who are already in it.
How can I talk to current university students before I apply?
Ask friends and family who they know at the schools on your list, go to open houses, and check program and student society social media. On Cohorts, you can join the community for a program and message students who are already in it. It is free on iOS and Android.