How to Choose the Right College
Essentials on How to Choose the Right College
“So many schools… how do I decide?!” I panicked. It was 10:30 on a Tuesday evening in August of my senior year. At this point, I had resorted to choosing any college outside of a 300 miles radius of my house. My rationale decision-making and keen logical reasoning resembled something of Elle Woods (Legally Blonde) in an accessories store. I only thought emotionally.
college decisions highway
Sound familiar? High school juniors and seniors face many decisions regarding college today. With thousands of colleges from which to choose, where does one start? Our advice… breathe. Have some fun but don’t get swept away too easily or too early by any one school. Here are some useful tips to help you avoid the wrong college as well as improper decision-making.
1. The more (unbiased) information, the better. Never make a commitment to a college without the right information. For example, would you buy a car without looking under the hood or, better yet, taking a test drive? No. Follow the same rules when deciding where to go to college. Looking “under the hood” so to speak at your top picks will help you know the truth. Yes, sometimes the truth hurts–better earlier than later.
2. A college visit is the best information. One of the quickest college visits by a student in our company’s history happened in five minutes, literally. The student arrived on campus, walked into a public restroom, walked back into his parent’s car and said “let’s go home.” Do you think his parent’s would have driven home if this situation occurred on the first day of classes? I don’t think so (especially my parents). Plan to visit your top picks during your summer and winter break before making any major decisions.
3. Talk to alumni and current students about their school. Ask the right questions. Don’t be afraid. Be honest. If they are happy with their school, they will tell you. If they are unhappy, they will also tell you. It’s a win-win situation. Just remember to talk to more than one person and not just admissions counselors. The most ideal situation would be to talk to students in your intended major and visit clubs that you are interested in joining. Don’t know how to do just that? Use your personal network. Send out a facebook message or talk to one of your classmates that is also interested in a particular school. Last but not least, take a tour of the campus and sit in the most crowded area. Approach someone that looks friendly, they won’t bite I promise.
We hope these tips are helpful and that you find what you are looking for. Good hunting! Please feel free to ask us questions or leave a comment below.
Email This Post
