Choosing a college is often the first major decision of a young adult’s life. It can also be among the most difficult and the most important. There are lots of factors that go into choosing the school that’s right for you.
And that means that it’s a decision that shouldn’t be rushed. Instead, it’s critical to determine what your priorities are and use this priorities list to weigh your options.
However, your work isn’t finished once you’ve identified the schools that best meet your goals. In fact, the odds are pretty good that you will still have a substantial list of prospects once you’ve winnowed out those that aren’t a right fit for you.
So how do you go about choosing when you have several schools that excite and inspire you? Well, until you master the art of being in two places at once like Hermione Granger, you’ll need to zero in on some fundamental attributes that can help you build your best college list.
Academics First
Not surprisingly, the first things you’ll want to consider are the variety and quality of academic programs. You don’t want to waste your time and money on a school that doesn’t prepare you for a career you can thrive in.
Remember, though, that college rankings aren’t always the be-all-end-all. They are a part of the puzzle, yes, but not the whole thing. So, when you’re assessing the quality of an academic program you’re interested in, look at a range of factors, including the number of degrees awarded and job placement rates.
Be careful, though, to ensure that the numbers are specific to your prospective field of study. For example, you should not only look at data like how many students in your proposed program graduated and got a job, but how many got a job in that field.
As you’re building your college list and comparing academic programs, it’s also important to consider the academic credentials of students in the program. Consider factors such as grade point average, SAT or ACT scores, high school curriculum, and extracurriculars for the typical student admitted to the program.
This will help you create a rough profile of the average student in that program and determine how your background compares and whether the program feels like a good fit.
Location, Location, Location
When choosing a college — just like real estate — location can be everything. When you’re creating your best college list, you will need to factor in not only the distance from your home but also the campus’s location itself.
For instance, a long-distance move can be expensive and very complicated. It may mean fewer visits home than if you choose to attend a local community college or an in-state school. You will need to weigh the advantages of the school (i.e. a great academic program) with the potential disadvantages (i.e. the costs, logistics, and distance from family) of moving far away.
In addition to factoring in the distance that you’re comfortable with, you’ll want to thoroughly research both the campus and the surrounding community. Consider attributes such as access to quality healthcare facilities, transportation, and recreation.
For instance, if the school is located in the middle of a food desert, you have to be prepared and have the means to travel a good distance to access healthy food. If you don’t have a reliable vehicle, sufficient time to travel to the nearest town, and enough gas money to do so, living in a food desert can take a toll on your mental and physical health.
Consider Safety
Researching the school’s location helps you determine whether you will be able to enjoy the lifestyle you want while studying there. But there are other factors to consider as well. The most significant, perhaps, is the question of safety — both on and off campus.
Do your homework on crime rates on campus and in town. Consider how secure the campus is and how accessible security forces are on campus and in student housing. You may even explore online programs or low-residency options if you find a program you love but have concerns about distance, location, or safety.
Student Services
Choosing the perfect college is often about far more than just selecting the highest-ranked degree program. You are also going to want to find a school that is willing and able to serve a variety of needs.
The student services you want will depend very much on your objectives, goals, and requirements — both the short and long term. You may, for instance, consider only schools with a robust study abroad program or those that offer substantial scholarships for student-athletes.
Likewise, if you have an illness or disability, you may want to ensure that your chosen school has a strong disability services division, or that you have access to quality healthcare on campus and off.
When you’re looking into student service offerings, it’s also critical to consider how the school supports students’ financial well-being. At a minimum, you will want to consider things like access to financial aid counseling, work/study opportunities, and career counseling and placement services for graduates.
Factoring in the scope of financial services on offer can help offset concerns about funding more expensive programs. This is especially true if a school offers student loan forgiveness options for students in some high-demand fields, such as teaching or healthcare.
The Takeaway
Choosing the college that’s right for you isn’t easy. In addition to finding the program that can best prepare you for the career you love, you will also have to consider issues such as location, student services, and job placement. This means that you’ll have to determine your needs and priorities — not just for your field of study but for the lifestyle you want while pursuing your degree. You must decide how close to (or far from) home you want to be, evaluate whether the campus offers the amenities you want, and consider whether a school offers the services you need. Of course, it’s also critical to keep an open mind. You may well find yourself studying online or at a community college before taking the next step in your academic career!
