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What are some cruical factors to consider when choosing a college/university?
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5 answers
Updated
Ritika’s Answer
Hi Zamira,
Great question. I think the answer will depend on your career goals and what you expect to get out of your college program. For me the department mattered more than the university, since I wanted to pursue a career in biology research. I researched what project the professors worked on, did they publish regularly, how well did the students do after they graduated and how well-funded the department was. I would suggest think about what are your goals are for the next few years and then decide. Good Luck!
Great question. I think the answer will depend on your career goals and what you expect to get out of your college program. For me the department mattered more than the university, since I wanted to pursue a career in biology research. I researched what project the professors worked on, did they publish regularly, how well did the students do after they graduated and how well-funded the department was. I would suggest think about what are your goals are for the next few years and then decide. Good Luck!
Okay, thank you. Much appreciated!
Zemira
Updated
Jackie’s Answer
Some important questions to ask yourself when deciding on which college is right for you:
1. How far from home? Do I want to go far or stay close?
2. Do I prefer a bigger environment (larger classes, bigger campus, potentially more resources) or smaller environment (smaller classes, more familiar faces around campus)?
3. Cost - it is important to consider the cost to ensure that that school will be a good investment. Should I go to the college that offered me more financial aid/scholarship/in-state tuition or is it worth it to go to the more expensive private/out-of-state college?
4. Does the college have what you are looking for? If you are interesting in medicine, would it set you up well for a career in medicine?
I personally went to a college about 2 hours from home (just far enough for me to explore a new place and close enough to easily be able to get home). My college was about 2,800 people with small class sizes, which I enjoyed since I was able to create meaningful relationships with professors and students. I visited campus and met current students, which helped me feel right at home. Since I was only 17 years old when I was deciding on which college to go to, I definitely leaned on my parents who thought that this was a good fit for me.
To help you decide, consider making a pros and cons list, doing extensive research, and visiting the campus in-person (if possible) and meeting some people who currently attend to see how you feel. And remember, that there are multiple schools out there that would be great fits for you (not just one), so be patient and search around. Best of luck!
1. How far from home? Do I want to go far or stay close?
2. Do I prefer a bigger environment (larger classes, bigger campus, potentially more resources) or smaller environment (smaller classes, more familiar faces around campus)?
3. Cost - it is important to consider the cost to ensure that that school will be a good investment. Should I go to the college that offered me more financial aid/scholarship/in-state tuition or is it worth it to go to the more expensive private/out-of-state college?
4. Does the college have what you are looking for? If you are interesting in medicine, would it set you up well for a career in medicine?
I personally went to a college about 2 hours from home (just far enough for me to explore a new place and close enough to easily be able to get home). My college was about 2,800 people with small class sizes, which I enjoyed since I was able to create meaningful relationships with professors and students. I visited campus and met current students, which helped me feel right at home. Since I was only 17 years old when I was deciding on which college to go to, I definitely leaned on my parents who thought that this was a good fit for me.
To help you decide, consider making a pros and cons list, doing extensive research, and visiting the campus in-person (if possible) and meeting some people who currently attend to see how you feel. And remember, that there are multiple schools out there that would be great fits for you (not just one), so be patient and search around. Best of luck!
Thank you so much!
Zemira
Updated
Donna’s Answer
Some critical factors in choosing a college are:
Does the school have the degree you are looking to study
What is the method in which you would be funding your schooling i.e. student loans, looking for financial assistance
Have you received any scholarships as that would help to fund your education
Do you have a threshold on the amount you or your family would be able to spend on your schooling
Are you looking for a certificate program offered at a 2 year school or are you looking for more of an advanced degree which would require a 4 year school
Do you prefer to go to a school near your home or further away where you would need to live there
Start to list out the answers to the above questions and let your desires help guide the 'kind of school' that fits thoese answers
Hone in specific schools based on what you determine is the 'kind of school'
Does the school have the degree you are looking to study
What is the method in which you would be funding your schooling i.e. student loans, looking for financial assistance
Have you received any scholarships as that would help to fund your education
Do you have a threshold on the amount you or your family would be able to spend on your schooling
Are you looking for a certificate program offered at a 2 year school or are you looking for more of an advanced degree which would require a 4 year school
Do you prefer to go to a school near your home or further away where you would need to live there
Donna recommends the following next steps:
Updated
Grace’s Answer
There are lots of factors to consider when looking at colleges, but when I was deciding where I wanted to go I focused on program, cost, and campus culture first. The program is important obviously because the main reason you're going to college is to invest in your education and prepare yourself for your career. Make sure you choose a program that really interests you and one that you'll enjoy. Cost is another big one. For me, cost was a big factor because I was paying for my education and I was a poor high school student. The school I was chose had lots of opportunity for financial aid and lots of scholarships I could apply to for help. I also looked at the campus culture of the schools I was considering. I wanted to go to a college where I would fit in and get along with other people. You don't have to look at campus culture if it's not that important to you, I just wanted a place where I could be comfortable.
Thank you, much appreciated.
Zemira
Updated
Abigael’s Answer
I echo Jackie's, Ritika's, Donna's, and Grace's answers and want to add that, for me, researching the program itself and the opportunities it would give me were very important (in addition to balancing it with the costs and financial aid). The field that I'm currently in is user experience (UX) design which focuses mostly on technology so I wanted a program that would give me relevant technical skills and opportunities for co-ops/internships since experience in the field is important for the job application process. That being said, the program you choose will depend on what you intend to do during and after your time in college/university. Ritika, for example, wanted to pursue a career in biology research so they found a program that would help them in that area.
Reflect on what kind of program you want to get into and what kinds of experiences that program can give you
Reflect on what you want your program to help you achieve after your time in college/university
Consider costs associated with the program, living at home versus living on campus (and meal plans), textbooks, etc.
Abigael recommends the following next steps: