| There are thousands of colleges to choose from, so | | | | to major in, then make sure that the schools you are |
| how do you choose which one is right for you? The | | | | considering offer your area of study. Also, if a |
| truth of the matter is that colleges and universities | | | | particular school is one of the top schools in your |
| have a lot more in common than they have | | | | major of study, you may want to take this into |
| differences. When it comes down to making a | | | | consideration. For example, if you want to study |
| decision on where you will spend the 4 or so years of | | | | international business and one of your college choices |
| your life studying, it really comes down to where you | | | | is rated as having the most graduates in the US from |
| will feel the most comfortable. Colleges and universities | | | | the college of business, you may want to take this into |
| do not specialize in particular subjects, so as long as a | | | | consideration also. |
| college offers the major you are interested in, then it | | | | • What does campus life have to offer you |
| can be considered as an option. | | | | (extracurricular, social events, etc.)? |
| So if all of the colleges are pretty much the same then | | | | While you are primarily at college to study and earn |
| what factors should you take into consideration? | | | | your degree, there are a lot of student activities |
| You should choose your college or university based on | | | | available at most colleges and universities. You may |
| the things that are important to you. Some things that | | | | want to consider what types of activities are available |
| you may want to consider or take the time to think | | | | to students and if any of the activities are things you |
| about are: | | | | are interested in participating. Maybe you are a water |
| • What size college/university and classes do you | | | | polo enthusiast and one of your college options offers |
| feel most comfortable with? | | | | this as a student sport. Depending on how important |
| Some people feel more comfortable in a more | | | | this fact is to you, this may move this particular college |
| close-knit community and learn better in a smaller class | | | | ahead of some of the others on your list. |
| environment. If you feel this way then you may want | | | | • Is the college offering enough financial aid to make |
| consider smaller private colleges. Others feel more | | | | it affordable? |
| comfortable in a big city and don't mind large classes | | | | You may have 3 colleges on your list of options. One |
| and/or a large campus with a large number of | | | | college is offering you a full scholarship, while the other |
| students. If you are one of these people, then you may | | | | two are not offering nearly as much. Is the college |
| feel more comfortable at a larger college or university, | | | | giving you a full ride your first choice? Or would you |
| maybe one that is located in a big city. | | | | really prefer to go to one of the other two colleges for |
| • In what geographic location would you like to | | | | a different reason? Money is a factor of almost all |
| attend school? | | | | major decisions, but it is not usually the only factor. |
| There are colleges and universities all over the country. | | | | Cost should be taken into consideration, just like your |
| Since you have to live and interact in the environment | | | | other reasons for wanting to attend that particular |
| and location that the college is located, you may want | | | | school. |
| to consider geographic location and the weather. | | | | • Do you feel comfortable and safe on campus? |
| Maybe you would like to choose a college that is | | | | When you make the campus visits to each of your |
| relatively close to where your family lives. Adversely, | | | | school choices, how do you feel? Do you feel like you |
| you may wish to choose a college or university that is | | | | belong there? Do you feel like you fit in? Do you feel |
| not located near your family. Weather conditions are | | | | like you could spend the next few years of your life |
| another thing that you should take into consideration. If | | | | living in this community, going to class everyday, |
| you hate the snow and cold weather, you may not be | | | | working, shopping, playing, etc., there? |
| happy at a school that is located in the northeast or | | | | When you are considering your college options, weigh |
| the Midwest where snow and cold weather are | | | | the pros and cons of each choice. List each of your |
| common occurrences. Keep in mind that you will be | | | | college choices and literally write down the positives |
| living at undergraduate school for a 4 year period, | | | | and the negatives for each school. See which school |
| maybe longer if you go on to grad school, etc. Pick | | | | has more pros than cons, and which school has more |
| somewhere where you feel like you fit and can live for | | | | pros than the other options. Another thing that you |
| the next few years of your life. | | | | should take into consideration is your priorities. Take a |
| • What type of institution would you like to attend? | | | | look at the schools that fit the criteria that are most |
| Do you prefer a private, public or state school? Are | | | | important to you. Even if this school doesn't have the |
| you interested in going to a religious school? Does the | | | | most pros but it is the only institution that fits your #1 |
| college offer the academic program in which you are | | | | priority, then this is something that you are going to |
| interested? | | | | have to take into consideration. The bottom line is that |
| Many colleges and universities offer the same or | | | | when you come across the school that is best for |
| similar programs, but if you know what you would like | | | | you, you will know it. |