How to pick the right college for you

By: Peter Lewis

It’s not a surprise to hear that the most important thing for any high school student to know is what college they need to go to.  This is truly one of the most important decisions anyone can make and will have numerous implications on their future.  Most times, picking a college goes beyond what you want your career to be; the college itself can be the deciding factor if you stay on that course or, as BusinessWeek.com reported, are part of the twenty-two percent of first time college freshmen that dropout after the first year. 

As ThinkProgress.org reported, only fifty-six percent of students who enter college in the United States graduate within six years and twenty-nine percent who enter a two-year program complete their degrees within three years the study found.  There are many factors that contribute to this.  AOL reported the top six reasons: anxiety/stress over expenses, anxiety about not spending time with family and friends, worrying about intellectual ability to complete course work, stress due to class interfering with normal routine, fear that earning a degree is needed to prove competence, and resentment for doing coursework rather than what they want.  The good thing to all this is that all these problems do indeed have solutions and if you know what you’re getting into before picking a college, you can avoid all of them.  Below are the most important things you need to know to pick and be successful in college.

 1. Know what you want to be/what major to pursue 

Easily one of the most important things to know when choosing a college is what career you wish to pursue after your period at a university.  A major should be something you are passionate about and can see yourself being able to do for an extended period of time.  Keep in mind that a career you want to do may be part of a broad major, such as journalism being classified most times under communications, which can lead you to other jobs after college.  Sometimes a career may require more than one major, like teaching, which needs a major in education and the subject itself.

 2.  Look at schools that offer your chosen major

 Everything you need to know about a school is online now, which will make this step fairly easy.  Look at colleges in your state and surrounding states, or even other states not close to your own and see which offer your chosen major.

 3.  Make a list of colleges

 With step two complete, begin to make a list of the colleges you think are best for you, but keep those you didn’t pick to the side, as your needs may change.

 4.  Check financial situation

 College is incredibly expensive, so a financial plan is a must.  Whether you have money set aside or go for scholarships, this step will most likely remove schools on your list.  Remember, out of state schools will charge you more and may not always be the best bet depending on your situation.  Before you apply for scholarships, you must set up a FAFSA account. Take this step in deep consideration, as it can be the difference between a smooth experience or financial stress with debt for years afterwards.

 5.  Check to see if you meet the college’s requirements

 If you already hadn’t, check to see the colleges’ requirements for ACT/SAT and GPA.  Depending how early you start looking gives you enough time to start, improving these and having a shot at getting in.  Keep in mind though, some schools advertise a select number for these, some can be liberal and get you in with an ACT/SAT or GPA close to what they initially wanted.

 6.  Know your priorities, needs, and mental strength  

 College will be stressful, there’s no other way of saying it.  Yet, knowing what you’re about to get yourself into will make a difference between staying and leaving.  If you’re going to college for the side activities, it’s best not to pick one that costs a lot or has high expectations.   Knowing how much stress you can handle and what a college will require of you will have a huge impact on your decision.

 7.  Know the location of the colleges on your list

 Going with step six and how your mental strength is, I can think about if you handle being away from home.  Be truthful; most teens will say yes, but it’s important to look at yourself and tell the truth, because, remember, thousands of dollars are on the line.  If you can’t handle this, then choosing an out of state school, or school that is more than a few hours away, may not be the best option.   

8.  Look into the college’s departments, housing, and opportunities

  You will find out very quickly that you need to know the campus of the college you’re looking at and what it has to offer.  To really ensure you’ll want to stay and not drop out, joining a club may be a very good option.  Keep in mind that a college’s size will directly impact t on how much they have to offer, so if you want options, a big college will have more to offer than a small college the majority of the time. 

As far as housing, most freshmen will stay on campus, but dorms are different and after freshman year, so it would be best to know your options and about housing off campus.  If you want a Greek Club, check to see if that college has one.

For some the most important end all be all is the opportunities or internships a college can offer.  If you want one, a college near a major metropolitan area would be advisable.  

9.  If time allows, call admission officers, set up a visit/meeting, and/or find a college fair

 If you have more questions that the college’s website cannot answer, strongly consider calling their admissions office and asking.  If really interested, check to see if you can set up a meeting or if when that college is having a welcome day of sorts.  College fairs are highly recommended and usually held at a local community college or high school.

 10.  Narrow list of colleges and apply

 Now that all steps are complete, the time will come when you turn in all the required information to a select college, or group, for admission.  It is best to have a backup school (or two) to insure you will get in somewhere.

With these steps in mind, the process of selecting a college will be much clearer.  If any other questions come up that were not answered here, remember that the admissions office and your school counselor are best suited to answer them or explain the process in much more in-depth detail.