Choosing between university and college is a lot like opening up a Kinder Surprise. You remember that egg-shaped chocolate we all ate when we were younger with some sort of small novelty inside? On one hand, you’re filled with excitement at the fact that you’ve acquired a Kinder Surprise, but on the other, you’re unsure as to what the toy inside is. The only way to get to that toy on the inside is to eat at least a portion of the chocolate egg big enough to get it out.

In the same way, you can never really know what university or college will be like until you’ve had at least a taste of whatever institution you’re interested in. It could be bitter, sweet, or just satisfactory. The best you can do is make as educated a decision as you possibly can by doing your research on each school, hearing personal experiences from other people, and actually visiting the campuses.

For starters, your decision to choose to attend university or college should depend on what you want to in your career. For example, to become a doctor, you need to go to an accredited medical school. To be accepted to a medical school, you absolutely need to have an undergraduate university degree. Therefore, a college education alone couldn’t conceivably land you a job as a doctor.

So hopefully you came to college – and Fanshawe College, at that – knowing that down the road it will eventually help get you to where you’d like to be. Your education is what’s most important.

Let’s put aside school allegiances and biases between university or college; at the end of the day you need to do what is best for you.

But, if you’re like many students, you were probably faced with the dilemma of choosing directly between university or college. There are differences between each, but which one’s the better choice?

Well, money talks. According to Statistics Canada’s National Graduates Survey, the median earnings of college graduates in 2007 sat at $35,000, Bachelor’s graduates took home $45,000, and those who held Master’s degrees earned $60,000. Doctorate graduates made the most, at $65,000.

At the same time, some college grads made more than those with Bachelor’s degrees. One-quarter of those with college diplomas earned more than $44,300 or more, while half of the group of Bachelor’s graduates made $45,000 or less. (To read the full report, check out tinyurl.com/gradstats07.)

So why does a student choose one over the other?

Kevin Bang

Western University graduate Kevin Bang completed a Bachelor’s degree in Management and Organizational studies with a specialization in Accounting in 2013.

The Mississauga native’s decision to travel an hour and 45 minutes west was based on a very popular stigma that many still fall victim to. “I chose university over college because I feel that students in high school have a perception that university is considered more prestigious than college – that’s what my parents think, at least,” he admitted. “And because you hear all your friends are applying to a university, you automatically want to be a part of that group. Also I don’t think students do much research when they are applying to university. I, for one, didn’t think I did.”

Bang is a hopeful future accountant, and says that going to university over college was worth it. “I believe my program prepared me well for my prospective career,” he said. “My program was specifically designed for students who would like to pursue their Chartered Accountant designation upon graduation. I think what’s lacking is the career aspect when it comes to school (is that) I don’t feel like I had enough opportunities to get my name out there to employers.”

Ultimately, Bang said he thinks university was worth it. “I gained all the courses required for what I ultimately want to achieve.”

Selecting an educational institution is a serious commitment, and it’s something that should be carefully chosen. You are investing many years of your life, and even more importantly, a lot of money. Bang said he enjoyed his time at Western. “After my four years at Western, I don’t think I would’ve chosen elsewhere. But then again, I don’t really have anything else to compare Western to. But I definitely do not regret going to Western. Academically I got what I came here for – no more, no less.”

We aren’t all cut from the same cloth, and even as a university grad, Bang said there’s a reason why college exists.

“University isn’t for everyone. The way I see it, everyone has a goal, a destination, and university isn’t the only way to get there. There are other paths that I suggest a person look into before they think of university is the only way. The way I see it, you can walk, bike, drive or take an airplane. Some methods will get you there faster, but at the end of the day, you’re going to be where you wanted in the first place.”

Kendra Sauder

Kendra Sauder is the former VP of Entertainment of the Fanshawe Student Union, and she graduated from Fanshawe’s Music Industry Arts program in 2013. Sauder was a Fanshawe “veteran,” so to speak, spending a total of six years at the college: she also graduated from the Hotel Management and General Arts and Science programs.

Like Bang, Sauder’s type of post-secondary education was somewhat predestined. “I never wanted to go to university. If I was ever going to go to a university, that was like a shoot-for-the-moon kind of thing and I wasn’t into it,” she stated. “I’m not the type of person who can just sit there and listen to lectures and take notes, that’s not how I learn. I learn by doing, and I always knew that college was more so suited for that: the hands-on approach and actually learning the job skills. College was always where I wanted to go.”

There are many differences between university and college, but there is one that stands as the most distinct: the learning experience. University is more theoretical, while college tends to be more hands-on. Sauder is of the latter breed, and admitted she wouldn’t have enjoyed university if she forced herself to go. “I wouldn’t have enjoyed classes nearly as much, because I’m not that type of person. Like in lectures, I can’t keep my eyes open,” she said. “It’s probably a running joke, but I fall asleep in lectures a lot … even if it’s the most interesting thing in the world, I don’t learn by just having stuff thrown at me or writing off a board, I learn by doing. I think there are a lot of kids in college who learn by actually physically getting to manipulate stuff and do stuff, and actually have conversations about it.”

Having served as VP Entertainment, VP External and VP Finance, Sauder said student government and involvement were at the forefront of her school experience. She said that Fanshawe gave her more opportunity to be a face on campus compared to university. “I don’t think I would have been nearly the same person … I think if I were in university I wouldn’t have the guts to go for any of their student government stuff, because it’s such a different environment there,” she said. “I had a chance to meet more people one-on-one and actually create meaningful relationships with them, whereas there I feel like it’s a lot harder.”

In the end, she left Fanshawe knowing that after six years, her time at the school was more than just success academically. “I don’t think I would have nearly been as outgoing, nearly as active in my community, and nearly as involved and caring about what’s going on around me as I am here.”

Ultimately, your education experience is entirely up to you. You have the ability to make the most of wherever you choose to go. The testimonials of the two graduates featured in this article are a subjective taste of what they thought of their schools. The toy in the Kinder Surprise had to be built with the included instructions for you to enjoy playing with it. In the same way, if you’re given advice on whether university or college would be best for you, make the most of it.