Ok. Long time, no talk. It seems like time has just flown by, and now I only have 17 days of high school left. I’ve chosen a college; I know how hard making that decision can be. Deciding where you want to spend the next 4+ years is a daunting task. With decision day quickly approaching, I’m going to give you some tips to make your decision if you’re struggling.
Location
What kind of setting do you see yourself in? Urban? Suburban? College town? Rural? Close to home? Across the country? There are advantages and disadvantages to each, so weigh your options and start thinking about what you might want. If you can figure out what kind of setting you want, you can start to narrow your list down.
Programs
If there are multiple schools that you can see yourself at, start looking at what the programs are like for what you’re considering majoring in. Look at rankings, the department websites, Rate My Professors, anything that you can find that might give you an idea of what kind of program it is and the quality of said program. Now, I wouldn’t call this THE deciding factor, but certainly, if you can’t choose, could help you decide which one will be better for you.
Opportunities
Each school is unique, possibly as an effect of the location, and with that comes different opportunities for you as a student. Some schools may be known for making it easier to study abroad. Others are known for internship opportunities and career services. Others for easy accessibility to undergraduate research. Or maybe there’s a particular club or organization you’re interested in participating in. Research the opportunities you may have at each school, and weigh them out and see if one has a clear advantage.
Reputation
Ok, right now you may be saying, “I thought we covered this with programs?”. Well, we’re talking about a different kind of reputation. What is the school known for? Is it a big sports school (a la SEC, Big 10, etc)? Is it more of a party school, or more focused on academics? Is there anything well known about it? Everyone has a view of what they want their college experience to be like. What’s yours? What kind of school do you want to be at?
Academic System
Not every school runs on the same academic calendar. The overwhelming majority of schools run on the semester system, which is 2 terms of classes separated by winter break. However, there are more options than that, like the quarter system, which has 3 terms, or the block schedule, where you take only one class at a time. How do you learn? What kind of system will work best for you? If you have the option of different systems on your list of acceptances, maybe you want to go with the system you feel more comfortable in.
Size
Do you want to be on a large campus? A small one? If you’re deciding between a larger state school and a smaller one, maybe the size is a factor. On a large campus, many of your classes may be in a lecture hall, however at a smaller campus your classes will probably be smaller and more personal. Do you want to have a more personal relationship with your professors? Or would you rather be “just a number”? If this is important to you, size could determine which school you attend.
Cost and Financial Aid
While cost should never be the number one factor, there’s no denying that money is an aspect of college. I ended up choosing the more expensive private school, but that is because it was a better fit, and at the end of the day, I could say that I loved everything about the school, except for the cost. Do you have a budget? What kind of financial aid package have you been given by each school? If you’re torn between schools, with all other things being relatively equal in your eyes, cost could be a deciding factor if one college gives you a better financial aid package and will leave you with less debt or a more manageable cost.
Bonus: What Not to Consider
All of your friends and/or your significant other are going there. Ok, I get it, you want to be with your friends or your boyfriend/girlfriend. But, college is much more than this. Why sacrifice what you want solely for them? Do you see yourself there, if they weren’t there? If not, it’s probably not a good fit. Do what’s best for you, and if one of your friends still ends up there too, great. But college is a whole new opportunity and people. Chances are, you’ll meet other people there that will become better friends than your high school friends.
If you’re on the fence, trying to make your college decision, I hope this helped you make your decision. It’s definitely a hard decision, and I hope that you make the decision that is right for you. Good luck in all your future endeavors!
-Tara
