How to Choose the Right College
If you aren’t sure where to start when it comes to choosing a college, don’t sweat it. It can be a hard choice to make, especially with so many options and things to consider. Here are a few things to think about when narrowing down your list of potential schools:
Decide On a Major
If you know what you want to study, check out the programs offered by a school and see if they have one that fits your needs. Not every college offers the same classes and programs, so do some research to make sure they have what you’re looking for. With all of the colleges and universities out there, there’s bound to be one that has your dream program.
But, if you don’t know what you want to major in, that’s okay too. Many schools allow students to start undecided, and there’s always the option to switch your major after school starts. Be careful if you’re thinking about doing this, though—if you switch too late, you may fall behind your peers and take longer to graduate!
Consider the Location
It’s important to like the place you’re going to be living in for four years, or maybe even longer. If you hate cold weather, a town that sees a lot of snow in the winter may not be the best environment for you. Make sure the schools you’re looking into are located in places you can see yourself thriving. It may also be important to see what else is in the area around the campus. Are there a lot of fun things to do in your free time? What is the housing situation if you stay after graduation? Are there any potential jobs in the area that are in your chosen field? Thinking ahead to life after graduation can be helpful for narrowing down your options.
Friends and Family
Do you know anyone who already goes to the school, or who lives nearby? If you are someone who doesn’t do well on their own, a college on the other side of the country might not be the best option. If you’re hoping to already have a group of friends or some family you can spend time with as you transition to college life, see if anyone you know already goes to the school or if you have any relatives that live close to campus. Of course you’ll make new friends, but there’s no replacing the people you already love. Don’t be afraid to consider your personal life and mental health when considering a place to move to for college!
Chance of Acceptance
Take a good look at your grades, AP/ACT/SAT test scores and your extracurriculars. Do a little research and see what numbers will typically be accepted by the school. While grades and test scores aren’t the only thing the admissions board will look into, it’s certainly a major component. Make sure you have a pretty good chance of being accepted into a few of the schools you like. If you only go for schools you’re not so sure you’ll be accepted to, it’s possible you’ll be disappointed when decision letters start coming in the mail. Continue to reach for the stars, but be sure to set reasonable goals for yourself too.
If you’re really hoping to get into a university with a low acceptance rate, you’ll want to start early. Take AP and honors classes, do volunteer work and study hard for the ACT and SAT throughout high school. This will increase your odds of getting into some extremely selective schools.
Campus Life
Just as the location of the college is important, so is the campus life. Take a tour of the campus and see how you like it. Some colleges have tons of fun things to do on their campus, which can make attending the school much more appealing. If the school sounds good on paper but feels dull and lifeless when you get there, you may want to reconsider. If a tour isn’t possible, see what current students have to say about their life at the school and think about whether or not that’s a life you can see yourself enjoying.
There are many different things that go into deciding on the right college for you, so make sure to take your time, consider your options and choose wisely.
Want to increase your chances of getting into the college of your choice? Contact us to talk about our college guidance program.