How To Choose A College?
Feb.01, 2010 in
College Selection
I’m beginning to look at colleges, and I have no idea how to narrow down my search any more. I know what I want to major in, but not much else. I’m fine with living in a big city or a small town, in any state, aprivate or pulic university, etc. Meeting the requirements isn’t a problem either. So what else should I consider when choosing? What things really made you love your college, and what really made you hate it? Why? And what things aren’t really worth considering?
February 1st, 2010 at 7:08 am
Don’t choose a university that is known for research. That’s where the ‘worst’ professors typically are. They may know the stuff they are teaching but they are more impersonal and their first job is research. Their 2nd is teaching.
I attend a midsize university that is not known for its research but it is well known for the department that I’m in (communication.) Try to choose a university that is known for it’s department that you are trying to get into if you don’t care exactly where you go. If they are, they are known for having great teachers in that department. Make sure that you will be able to afford the college all 4 years. Something not worth considering is whether it is a ‘party’ college or not because if you want to avoid that (or not), it is at all colleges.
The things that I dislike about my University are just little things I learned from working within the housing department (first as an RA, now my husband is something similar to that but in the apartments, and now I work as an office assistant to a secretary in the housing department.) Also, my university is constantly under construction and driving through part of it is very obnoxious now. But that doesn’t really even matter. The main things to consider, I already mentioned – making sure you can afford it (by the way, if you go out of the state you live in, it will be more $) and seeing if it is reputable for your major. Maybe look for somewhere in an area you think you would enjoy..if you like beaches, go somwhere on a coast..if you enjoy large cities, go somewhere in a big city, or if you want a break from it all and less distractions, go to a smaller town University.
Another thing to consider – for your first 2 years when you are taking general education classes (everyone has the same general classes you have to start out with), you can go to a community college. The professors are there only to teach and you actually get a lot higher quality of learning for the general classes that you already have to take. You can go there for 2 years, get an associates degree, then transfer to whatever university. You will have all of your general education classes out of the way and transition into college from high school in this way. I loved it because I was in the honors program and we had a lounge that we could all hang out in or study in. Everyone else that went was stuck sitting in the hallways being bored if they had a half hour or hour between classes since you don’t live at a community college so you don’t want to just go back to your room between classes like you can at a University.
Good luck in your choice and I’m sure there will be pros and cons to wherever you choose.
February 1st, 2010 at 8:13 am
financial matter ain’t matters to you…how about the accessibility? would you go for a long travel time or rent for a place because that university though far from your own place yet a top notch when it comes to the course/major you will taking up to? if the reputation of the university ain’t matter to you as well better enroll to where you are much comfortable at. to where you can study better. it is just where you can give your best to fulfill your decree. break a leg and Congrats! =)
February 1st, 2010 at 2:34 pm
I would consider visiting schools that sound interesting to you and seeing whether you feel like they are places you’d be prepared to spend 4 years. You honestly have no preference at all? Would you want to go far from your home or really close, or in the middle? New York City and the middle of Minnesota are vastly different places – do you want to have a Starbucks within two blocks?