For several generations now, a university degree has been seen as a means to a bright and secure future, and understandably so. According to Bureau of Labor statistics, the rate of unemployment among college graduates was just 2.5 percent, nearly one-fourth of the national unemployment rate for the 16 to 24 age group. That one statistic leaves no scope for doubting the value of a university education.

However, getting a university degree still remains a challenge for thousands of students. Out of the students enrolling for a four year university course, the completion rate currently stands at an alarmingly low 59 percent after six years- the completion rate was even lower for two year courses. That means two out of every five students who enrol for university never complete their course, which goes to explain the magnitude of the student loan crisis.

And so, if you are a student planning to enrol for a university program, here are three things that you need to keep in mind.

Therefore, the choice of university course has to be based on a realistic assessment of the total cost of completing the course, the extent of financing required, your career prospects and your repayment capacity after graduation. It may sound like a troublesome exercise, but that could make the difference between a good life and a post-graduation debt trap.

• Alienation: Loneliness is a severely under-reported aspect of campus life. Students usually come completely unprepared for the challenge since they are led to believe that the time spent at university would be- in the words of one expert– the time of their lives. The problem gets exacerbated by the fact that many institutions do not have in-campus counsellors to help them cope with the loneliness. The situation becomes even more dire among international students, who have the additional challenge of having to cope with a culturally alien environment.

Consequently, it is extremely important to enter campus with a realistic idea of the challenges that lie in store and the possible coping mechanisms, which could be in the form of co-curricular activities like sports, theatrics, music classes, etc. Most importantly, remember that talking to peers can help you immensely. If you are feeling lonely in campus, it is quite likely that they are sailing in the same boat.

• Academic Papers: Another challenge for which you need to be prepared is the research paper that is an important component of many university courses. Writing a paper from scratch demands writing skills not everyone naturally possesses. The challenge assumes an altogether different dimension if you are foreign student, for whom English is not even the first language.

So, while deciding which course you want to get into, get a clear picture of the challenges that it will pose and how you are going to overcome them. This will ensure that there are no road bumps along the way.