5 Things to Do Before Making your College Decision
The college decision is often the biggest decision an 18 year old has had to make in their young life.
Where a student chooses to spend the next four years will likely have life-altering impacts on almost every area of his or her life. What career will they end up in, who will their friends be and where will they end up living? The enormity of the decision often leaves the student and his or her family stricken with a serious case of decision paralysis. Over the years of counseling students, we have come up with the following 5 step formula to make the decision process more smooth:
1. Realize That You are In the Drivers Seat: Before you were accepted by a particular college, you were just another candidate eager to be accepted to a given university whose admissions department was bombarded by obsequious applicants. You were asked to write essays, fill out applications and wait patiently. That was then. Now, you are the prize, the student that they would like to attend their school. Recognize that you are encouraged to take the decision seriously and do your due diligence by visiting, if applicable, reaching out to the school for more information and by speaking to current student and alumni.
2. Lay Out the Options: The next step is to get clear on exactly what schools you are choosing between. That means eliminating any unlikely choice early, zeroing in on a few top schools and considering the financial implications of attending each one. College is often a major financial investment. It can involve taking on debt that can be challenging to pay back in future. Consider the cost of classes, dorm and food. Factor in parental contribution, financial aid and loans. Put down a final number next to the schools and know it cold. How much debt will you be graduating with and how do you plan to pay it back. Have a list of schools and their costs written out.
3. Research the Academics: Often times students apply to a school based off of the schools general reputation alone. That is fine, but before you commit to a school, it is vital that you do a good amount of research on the academic program you are interested in. Want to be a teacher? What are the particular requirements of each school. Want to be a physicist? Who is the head of the department? What teacher will you take majority of your courses with? How does he or she rate on Rate My Professor? Reach out to the admissions office and ask to b put in touch with a current student who is majoring in the area that you plan to major in. Have a conversation with them and get an understanding of the intricacies of the program.
4. Know the Culture: Attending a college is about so much more than just academics. It is about an environment and a culture designed to accelerate your growth. Many schools attract a specific-type of student that are drawn to it because of its academic reputation, geographic location and school spirit. The best way to get a feeling for a schools culture is by visiting, if possible, or by interacting with students and alum. Have more than one conversation and ask yourself, can I see myself in this school? Is this the place that provides the right balance of comfort and rigor? Take each school’s promotional materials with a grain of salt, but they too can provide you valuable insight. Polls run by the Princeton Review and other similar institutions are another good resource.
5. Let it Fly: At the end of the day, there is no perfect decision and no way of you knowing how the future is going to turn out. Once you have done your research, you should have a gut feeling that is nudging you in a direction. Speak to your parents, teachers and mentors and then go for it and don’t look back. Remember, your future is what you make of it.