The Right Fit: Finding the Perfect College
By the time you are a junior in high school you will receive dozens of marketing brochures and fliers for local, domestic and international colleges and universities. While the glossy pictures may look inviting, you have to look beyond the marketing hype to choose the school that is right for you. Not only will you work with your parents to consider financial issues, but you will go on numerous college tours, and be asked to answer the same question many times: “How did you like the school”. Let’s get down to the basics. When you are looking at schools, you should have an idea of what you want before you even go on the tour.
That way, you can ask the right questions of your tour guide, the faculty and the students who attend the school. Start by making a list of the things you want and the things you DO NOT want, and narrow your search. Go to the school website and do some research to see what you can find out in advance. Then select 15-20 schools you want to consider and decrease the list to five to ten you will tour for final consideration. Here are some things you should think about for your list of ‘must have’ and ‘nice to have’.
Location – do you want to be close to home, or far away? Near a big city or out in the country? In a cold area or in a warm area?
Size – are you better in small groups? Do you get lost in a crowd or do you love to meet new people every day? Consider the size factor when you think about a college. Will you enjoy a small school where you recognize faces, or will you love the excitement of a huge, bustling campus? How large are the classes? Are you OK in a huge classroom, or do you want your professor to know your name?
Extracurricular Activities – Whether you like sports, music, clubs or theater, get an idea of what each campus has to offer. This is the way you will stay active and healthy and meet new people. If you are an athlete, you will have to weigh your place on a team in a particular school against the other considerations to decide whether this school has everything you want. If you are active in your church, you should also check to see what campus worship options are available and whether these suit your needs.
Field of Study and Curriculum – Choose a school that is well respected for the major you want. If you do not know what you want as a major, choose a school that offers a lot of options for majors and focused programs. Be sure that the equipment, labs, classrooms and resource material is state of the art for the field of study you want to pursue. What are the average academic standards for this school in your area of study? Can you make the cut? Are the school standards too low? You want a school that is well respected with high academic standards. Will your classes be taught by a professor or by a student or assistant?
Tuition and Financial Aid – Look at the tuition, room and board and other fees at the schools you like. See what you can get in the way of financial aid and work with your parents to determine whether this aid will be adequate. You can consider work-study programs, but in your freshman year, you may not want to overload yourself with a job to offset the cost of your education.
Tour the campuses you are considering and talk to alumni and teachers. This is the best way to get first-hand knowledge of the environment and the people. Finally, ask yourself why you are going to college, what you want to get out of this experience, and how soon you want to get your degree. If you have a list of established goals and preferences, you will find it easier to find the perfect school to meet YOUR NEEDS!