Your college isn’t only about prestige and diploma.
When choosing a college, a prospective student should consider numerous aspects, from academic studies and career goals to social activities, campus atmosphere, and beyond. It’s an important decision, and it stands to reason that making this decision can feel overwhelming. Where do you begin with more than 3,500 postsecondary institutions in the U.S. alone?
While future alma maters are evident for some applicants, others need time to investigate the options or find a compromise with pressure from family to choose a particular college. This article shares the critical factors to consider when deciding on a college and gives concrete steps that help inform your decision.
Step 1: Determine Your Top Priorities
What is essential to you regarding college life and its benefits?
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- Majors and study programs
- College reputation
- Your budget
- Location (how far it’s from your home) and housing options
- Size (both large and small colleges have their pros & cons)
- Campus culture with extracurricular activities (clubs, athletics, political involvement, travel, work experience, etc.)
Before you hire professional paper writers like AdvancedWriters to assist you with your application, determine your top priorities to consider when choosing a college. It will shorten the list of potential contenders and speed up the process.
Step 2: Make a List of Potential Contenders
Compile a list of schools based on the priorities you specified. What can help here?
Go online and check resources with the top colleges and the algorithms allowing you to compare them. You can also listen to the recommendations from your family and friends and include the schools they attended on your list. Or, add reputable colleges known for their high-quality degree programs that fit your needs.
Develop your shortlist of colleges for more profound research and ranking.
Step 3: Research Critical Factors
Once you have a shortlist of potential alma maters, you should research them in detail and rank them according to your priorities.
Here are several factors that could influence your final decision:
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- The distance from your home, community amenities, proximity to public transportation, and housing options matter for applicants craving comfort and praising time.
- Available majors and classes. This factor is critical, especially if you have specific career goals. It stands to reason that you need a college that offers the programs of your interest. Also, consider their co-op opportunities.
- Sure thing, you’ll consider the financial aspect when choosing a college. What is its cost of attendance? What financial opportunities are available at each institution on your list? Scholarships, loan options, grants — do your best to investigate and consider everything.
- College size. While prominent colleges are usually more popular among applicants, small educational institutions have their pros, too (close-knit community, more personalized attention from professors, etc.). Weigh all the pros and cons to decide which college size better meets your goals and needs.
- Available extracurricular activities and student resources. Find out which colleges on your list offer to see if they have what you want: writing centers, libraries, social activities, medical care, tutoring services, you name it.
Step 4: Take Campus Tours
If you plan to study online, this step is optional but still helpful to understand the campus atmosphere. You’ll gain insights into a college culture and see if it fits you well. You’ll have an opportunity to talk to other students, ask questions, and hear their experiences and unique perspectives on studying there.
It will also be helpful to speak with admissions staff to learn and see specifics that a college website can’t communicate.
Step 5: Revisit After Application
So, now that you have the top 5-7 colleges on your list, it’s time to apply. Write application essays, fill in the application forms on college websites, and send all the required documents for review. Once applications are in, think again about where you eagerly want to attend and plan another visit to those colleges.
Why?
A return trip and a second look at the campus will help clear up doubts if you still have any. Also, it’s an excellent opportunity to contact college officials or students with any follow-up questions you forgot to ask during your first visit. Make a list of 10-15 detailed questions about academics, financial aid, work opportunities, and career outcomes — and don’t leave any unanswered.
Over to You
Choosing a college may feel overwhelming, but you can handle this challenge with a step-by-step plan in your pocket. Determine your priorities, develop your short list of colleges to apply to, and visit their campuses to get a broader picture. Investigate their programs, financial aid rewards, student resources, and extracurricular activities.
If still in doubt, communicate with your family. Give them reasons why you want to attend a particular college and ask for advice. And remember:
Even if your top-choice college doesn’t accept you, try not to dwell on that rejection. You still have to decide where to study, so move on to the second, third, and fourth colleges on your list. You’ve included those options there, so they are also worth attention, don’t you agree?
