Finding the right college for you can make the difference
between enjoying a great experience or not. Remember,
this can be a very stressful process. This is true for everyone,
the student, parents, family and friends. Schools are
not the same, and to state the obvious- different people react differently as a result.
Just because your Uncle Max went to a school doesn't mean it is
the school for you. However, understanding some of the reasons
why this may or may not be true is an important part of the process.
Ask yourself what are the important
things - Is a competitive marching band a must? Does
the school have to have a football team? Is a rural or urban Location
a deciding factor? Do they offer scholarships, financial aid, or
a job assistance program? How about your courses of interest?
There are many options, ideas and view points to
be considered when selecting a college. This can be especially
true if you are attending college for the first time.
The
ten musts that we consider to be of primary importance are as follows.
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1. |
Create a list of potential Schools
- Include a dream school and a safety school. Also
for reference sake include both large and small
schools. Apply to as many schools as you can
that hold an interest for you. Remember, you
really do not have a choice to make until you have
been accepted by the college or university.
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2. |
Talk to as many people you can about
the colleges and universities you are considering.
Include your parents and immediate family in the
process. Include your teachers and Guidance Councilor
in the process.
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3.
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Make a list of the important factors to be considered. (A white board
can be great for this.) Spell out the pros
and cons for each school. This can be a very
helpful evaluation tool. |
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4.
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Visit the Campuses prior to making
a decision. The old saying is "A picture is
worth a thousand words, but nothing is better than
being there." There is the comfort factor
that needs to be considered. Nothing is worse than getting
there and finding that it was too small , too big,
or that you simply disliked the location.
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5.
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Based on the school, try and project what your
living expenses would be each month. Can you
live on campus? What about personal items,
and spending money. Where are these things going
to come from. If you need to get a job does
employment seem readily available. Does the
cost you computed match the reality of your situation.
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6.
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Do as much research as possible. Read as many
things as you can by recent or current students,
but be careful about putting to much faith into
a single comment or online posting.
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7.
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Consider the hazards of attending college in
general. What will your personal standards
and practices on Birth control and protection against STDs be.
(Remember birth control pills do not protect against
STD's.)
There will be the possibility of coming
in contact with drugs and drinking. Many Schools
are now exercising a Zero-Tolerance policy on these.
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8.
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Look at the graduation statistics of the school.
If a majority of the students graduate in
6 years instead of 4 - ask why. Note for teaching
many colleges and universities now have a 5 year
program. How will this impact your finances.
Another statistic you may want to consider
is how many freshmen return for a second year.
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9.
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Once you have been accepted, visit the school
again. Keep an open mind, and try to envision
yourself living there.
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10.
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Be Patient, it is a stressful process.
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Copyright 2011
