5 Tips for Choosing the Best College for YOU

Entering the world of applications, ACTs and questions about what you are going to do for the rest of your life, can be a frustrating, exciting, and time-consuming thing, and that is where tips from someone who went through it all not too long ago come in…

1. Size: Colleges come in a variety of sizes and is often where students start when beginning the college search. To find what’s best for you, you need to think about what would make you feel most comfortable…if you went to a large high school, did you like it? Or would you rather have less students or more? Some universities have student populations of over 30,000! Larger schools and those near cities generally have a more diverse student population, so if you are looking for something more in your comfort zone, or if you would rather stick with what you know, these are all things to keep in mind.

2. Location/Distance from Home: The location of your school determines a lot: how often (if at all) you are able to go home, what type of environment you will be living in, the amount of students, and how much freedom you will have. If you are more dependent, you may want to attend school closer to home so that your mom can do your laundry for you or you can go home for dinner once in awhile. On the other hand, going to school a few hours (or more!) away can make for a very exciting change of pace and lend itself to many new adventures. College is a learning experience and where you will be living for most of the year plays a large role.

3. Cost: Now, the thing that everyone is most concerned with. “How much will this cost me?” At first glance, many of your choices may seem pricey, several even out of your price zone, but do not rule out a school just because of what seems like a hefty price tag. Most students get some type of financial aid, whether through the school they are attending or the government. It should be noted that private schools, although generally more expensive, often give out more scholarships than public schools. Check into everything before making a decision based on cost, you will be surprised with how much financial assistance is available.

4. Majors/Requirements: If you already have an idea about what you want to do after college, then after you decide what size school would best fit you, it would be best to look into the programs and majors available to make sure it fits your needs. Some students go into college hunting not knowing what they want to do after high school, so many choose to go to a junior or community college to get general classes out of the way and then transfer to a four-year university. Some career paths are more lenient, others are extremely strict. Make sure you know what classes transfer over, and how many credits you need before declaring a major.

5. Athletics/Activities/Special Events: What do you like to do when you are not studying? Extracurriculars are an important part of the college lifestyle, so you should know what things are available to participate in, and watch, around campus. If you believe sports are an essential part of school, then that is something you should look into. If you are interested in joining a club, or running for a committee, or writing for the school newspaper, for example, then those are all things you should see if your prospective schools provide those opportunities. School isn’t just about academics after all!

And that is just the beginning…