Choosing A College: What to Consider When Choosing a School
There are many important factors to consider when deciding which college will be the best fit for you. Look at the different characteristics schools can have. For example, consider the following:
- Trade school versus college
- Public versus private
- Two-year versus four-year program
- Graduation and retention rates
- School and class size
- Location (urban, suburban, small town, or rural)
- Distance from home
- Religious affiliation
- Ethnic composition
- Single gender or coed
- School setting (downtown or in the country)
- Areas of study
- Breadth of course offerings and availability of courses
- Facilities
- Campus environment
- Housing
- Academic rigor (How hard/challenging is it?)
- Social activities and clubs
- Study abroad and internship opportunities
- Faculty reputation, degrees, accessibility, etc.
- Graduate school and job placement
- Admission criteria
- Athletics
- Campus morale and sense of community
- Academic support
- Cost
- Financial aid
Work through these different college characteristics and determine the five or six factors that are most important to you, then base your college search on those characteristics. If you are determined to be a doctor and being within three hours of home is very important for you, start looking for colleges within a three-hour radius that have strong science programs and good medical school placement rates. You may feel like you have to get into the most competitive colleges. And while competitive colleges may be the right place for you, don't let selectivity be the only factor. Don't let outside pressures get in the way of making the best decisions for you. Remember, too, that visiting campuses is one of the best ways to determine what college features and characteristics are of high value to you.
