10 Tips for Choosing a College
Published in College News on 2/27/2007
10 Tips for choosing a college
1. Deciding what to study will help you choose where to study. If you have a specific career path in mind, say a dentist or an architect, this will allow you to narrow the field. Not every university has an animal husbandry program, for instance. Also, you do not have to know exactly what your major will be. There will be plenty of time for that. But if you are uncertain whether you will study English Literature or World History, make a list of schools that have strong liberal arts programs and go from there. But keep in mind...
2. The physical location of your college is also important. The climate of your location, for instance, might have a large impact on how you feel while you're going to school. Do you hate the rain? Then don't apply to Reed College in Portland or University of Washington in Seattle. Not a big fan of the sun? Probably want to avoid UCLA and maybe California altogether. Want to be near a large body of water? There is a college to suit every environmental need, all you have to do is research.
3. Visit as many campuses as possible. Campus visits are a great way to get a feel for a specific institution. Remember that it is very important to ask questions when you're there. It might be your home for the next four years, after all. It's likely that a current student will be your tour guide for the campus tour, the highlight of any campus visit. Ask him/her all the questions you have about professors, class size, student life, etc. If necessary, make a list of the questions you want to ask and jot down notes on the answers. Don't worry about looking stupid. Like choosing a major, there will be plenty of time to look cool later.
4. Insure that your admissions essay is a strong match for the particular institution you are applying to. After narrowing the field down to the handful of colleges you are most interested in, take a closer look at the individual application requirements. What is their admissions essay prompt? Do they use the Common Application? Is there a special supplement? Some colleges want you to answer a specific question, such as, what individual has influenced you the most and why? Other institutions take more of a creative writing approach, such as, write page 217 of your 300 page autobiography. Your essay must answer the question given as well as being entertaining and concise. Click here for more information.
5. Start researching colleges early. It's never too early to start researching where to go to college. University guidebooks offer a wealth of information. The Internet also features many tools that will help you make sense of all the information you are gathering (see below).
6. Be realistic about your chances of getting in to a particular institution. If your grades and standardized test scores are less than stellar, don't apply exclusively to highly selective universities. This doesn't mean that you are not allowed to dream. But balance your dreams with reality. When you have finally narrowed down your list of colleges to apply to, the list should contain a couple of 'fantasy' picks – colleges you'd love to go to but your chances of being admitted are slim, followed by three of four colleges whose academic requirements are more closely suited to your own. Then lastly, your list should have a couple of fall back options – colleges you are sure to be admitted to. Certainly there will be many factors that go into your list of choices but whatever you do,....
7. Don't make your list of colleges based solely on money. That isn't to say that money will not be a factor in your decision. Just don't let the price-tag sticker shock of an Ivy League education send you scurrying to your local community college. A growing number of institutions are offering some form of free tuition in an effort to attract bright and brainy low-income students. According to a recent US News and World Report article, “the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill, Michigan State University, Miami University in Ohio, the University of Pennsylvania, and Rice University have all eliminated loans from the financial aid packages of low-income students. Princeton University offers loan-free packages to all students who qualify for financial aid.” So check on that colleges financial aid policy before you cross it off the list because of its exorbitant tuition.
8. Size does matter. Think carefully about what sort of environment you are most likely to thrive in, academically and socially. There are large state universities that feature graduating classes of 30,000 and small private universities that admit only 30 students per year. And everything in between. Which academic and social dynamic do you prefer? Do you desire the anonymity of a lecture class held in an auditorium with 400 other students or the intimacy of a small survey course with only you, five other students and the professor?
9. Avoid the most common mistakes when choosing a college. Do not choose a college because your boy/girlfriend is going there, or because you thought the tour guide was hot, or because the school has a great football team (unless, of course, you are a football player.) Choosing a college is the biggest decision you have had to make so far. Don't be a child about it.
10. Make use of the Internet for all your researching and investigating of colleges. The Internet allows you to gather much information about potential colleges without leaving your desk. All colleges and universities have some sort of web presence. Many sites feature virtual tours and detailed information about choosing a major, classes, and life on campus. Also, you should avail yourself of websites like www.pickaprof.com which allows you to read reviews of your potential prof's. The Internet is also a great source of information about student aid, scholarships, and grants.
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