What are the most important considerations when choosing a college?
Mar.22, 2010 in
College Selection
With April rolling around, it’s time for my admissions decisions to come rolling in. Assuming I have a few choices of universities to attend, what qualities should I pay the most attention to when choosing among colleges that have accepted me? What are you stories with choosing a college, and what do you wish you had done differently? Any general advice?
March 22nd, 2010 at 5:27 am
The most important considerations are different for everyone. Decide if a large campus with a lot of resources is important to you — or, would you prefer a smaller campus with more contact with the professors. Is getting a job after graduation your main reason for going to college, or do you have a passion for learning? What opportunities does each campus offer for internships, study abroad, and learning communities. What is their retention rate from first year to second year and what percentage of incoming freshmen graduate within 5 years? What kind of financial aid package can each campus offer?
If you haven’t done so already, go visit your top campuses — spend the night in a residence hall and attend one or two classes. This might help you decide which is a better fit for you.