What's the Right College for Me?

Think about the reasons why YOU want to go to a particular College.

Do you want to go to University of Tech-Knowledge-y because of its name and prestige? Is it because of where it's located? Is it because all your friends are applying there? Is it because your parents went there and they want you to have the same great College experience as they did?

Here are some things to consider when making College selection choices:

Academics

• Academic Program: are you interested in any of the majors the school has to offer? Some Colleges and Universities have special programs for specific fields of studies. You should visit the school's website and look for what kind of programs they offer in your field of study. They might require special applications for different programs of study. Be sure that you meet all the application requirements and meet their submission deadlines!
• Faculty: Professors are great people to get to know in College. I know, it sounds weird right? If you think about it, Professors actually have a lot wisdom from years of experience in their field. Also, don't forget that at one time, they were students just like you! You'll want to consider whether the Professors make themselves available to undergraduates. What's the ratio of student to faculty? Are you going to always be packed into an enormous lecture hall for all your classes? Sometimes at research Universities, Professors are too busy writing books and traveling to spend time with their students.
• Co-ops and Internships: Some schools encourage students to take a semester off to work in companies to gain industry experience. Some schools even offer academic credit for a term spent working at a company in the field of study you are pursuing. These schools tend to have close connections with local businesses and companies. They develop and offer programs that help you prepare to apply and acquire positions where you can learn what it's really like to have a successful career a particular field.

Review Basic Information About Your College or University Campus and Community

• Location: Is it urban, suburban or rural? How do you feel about each type of place?
• School Population: Is it too big? (20,000+ undergrads) or too small? (1,000 students)
• Cost: Higher education can be very expensive. How much is tuition? Usually, if you apply to a public school within your state, you can pay in-state tuition, which is substantially less expensive than if you pay out-of-state tuition rates.

Student Life

• Activities: The typical College student spends four years in school. This means, that you'll probably want to get acquainted with what Student clubs or sports teams you're interested in participating in? What do the existing activities tell you about the campus culture, and is it something you like?
• Campus Culture: Does the environment foster lots of close community culture? What do people do on campus? What activities do other students participate in for fun?
• Surrounding Resources: Can you cross-register at other schools for credit? Are there interesting places nearby that you would visit for fun (i.e. museums, ocean, mountains, etc)?
• Transportation: Are you going to need a car to get around? Will you be able to get to and from the airport or bus terminals? Do people use bikes and public transportation at the school you are interested in attending? Can you see yourself using alternative modes of transportation too?
• Other Students: Your peers are the people you're going to be with most during your four years in College! Visiting the College in person is nice because you get a real sense of what it's like to be a student at the school.