School ranking. Scholarships. Majors. Dorm life. These are some of the things on the minds of international students when researching Arab region universities. With so much to consider, there’s bound to be criteria students overlook.

Bahraini national Mohammed Hussain Ramadhan started as an electronics and communication engineering major at American University of Ras Al Khaimah in the United Arab Emirates, but left after only one year.

“When I chose AURAK, I forgot to consider the student life in the university and the entertainment,” says Ramadhan, now a computer and communication engineering major at Ahlia University in Bahrain. “I left AURAK because the student life there is dead and not many activities are available, so I felt bored.”

Ramadhan says most of the international students he knew were immigrants, and unlike him, lived with family members based in the UAE, which made him feel lonelier.

Here are some mistakes for international students to avoid as they evaluate university options in the region.

[Explore five factors to find the right Arab region university.]

1. Not checking out resources for international students: Departments devoted to international students, along with their level of activity, vary from school to school. Ramadhan says AURAK does have an active international students department that offers visa support and organizes some cultural events, but says he would have liked to see more social activities, cultural exchange programs and trips.

Joann Harb from Lebanon‘s University of Balamand’s Office of Student Affairs, which houses an international students office, says the school has an international students club that organizes trips to various regions in Lebanon, among other events and activities.

But current student Fadi Jbeli, a Syrian national, says the club holds some, but not many, activities during the academic year. He says he’d like to see the university do more to promote active interaction between international students, such as arranging regular meetings “on a weekly or even a monthly basis so they can be introduced to each other and plan for events and activities.”

[Find out about the growth of extracurricular activities at Arab region universities.]

2. Choosing a school only for its location: Some students may be initially attracted by the perceived lifestyle offered or opportunities in a city, which may not be a reality for a student once there. Arab international students may find the cost of living in a particular city is high, for example, or that when it comes to career opportunities, hiring managers in specific fields tend to favor local citizens.

Ahmed Abdelnour, international marketing coordinator at the University of Wollongong in Dubai, said via email that the school would “never recommend” students choose a university based on location only. “It is just one factor that should have an influence on their final decision.”

Anna Dechert, director of admissions at New York University Abu Dhabi, says students choosing a university should be excited about the experience they will have on campus as well as off.

“If you love the city but hate your time in school, or vice versa, it’s unlikely you’ll be happy at university,” said Dechert, via email.

Libyan national Zeina Dellali, an international studies major at Al Akhawayn University in Morocco, says students should select a reputable school based on what the institution has to offer, not solely on its location. However, she didn’t take into consideration how studying in Morocco would make it harder to see her family.

[Learn how to get comfortable at a coed Arab university campus.]

“Currently my home country is going through tough times in terms of war and terrorism. Therefore, it is very inconvenient for my family to regularly be able to visit me,” says Dellali. The procedures required for Libyan citizens to enter the country are time-consuming, she says.

That was one of the reasons Jbeli chose the University of Balamand. Jbeli, who completed his bachelor’s at the school and is currently pursuing a master’s in civil engineering there, lives in the dorms.

“I can go to Syria and see my parents and friends whenever I want,” says Jbeli, who is a few hours’ drive from his home in the neighboring country.

3. Not visiting the university: A website may show a pretty picture of the campus, but won’t necessarily give an accurate representation of what it’s actually like. For example, an international student may not be prepared for a coed environment and may want to see if the school meets any religious or cultural needs he or she may have.

“Students and parents need to evaluate the place and to ensure it does meet their standards, safetywise, religionwise etc.,” says Dellali. “Students come from different parts of the world, choosing to live in a specific campus for their next four years. They must be 100 percent sure that they will be comfortable in such an environment.”

Jbeli says though distance, visa problems and cost may preclude some students from visiting, if students have the opportunity to visit, they should.

Campus visits can allow students to get a better idea about university culture and accommodations and to explore the city, says Abdelnour from the University of Wollongong in Dubai.

Cherif Bel Fekih, executive director for development and communication at Al Akhawayn University, says the school recommends prospective students visit before applying. The decision to study abroad “should be based on sound arguments and not on some idyllic impression,” said Bel Fekih, via email.

Ahlia University student Ramadhan, who did not visit AURAK until after he was accepted, says students should also sit in on class lectures.

“I think it is so important that the student get all the needed information about what they are going to face later on,” says Ramadhan.

See the complete rankings of the Best Arab Region Universities.

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Mistakes International Students Make When Choosing an Arab University originally appeared on usnews.com