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What are some good tips for choosing colleges?
I am a sophomore in high school thinking about college. I don't know what I want to major in yet
#college #highschool
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5 answers
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Carolyn’s Answer
It's ok if you don't know what you want to major in yet, you've got time to research and explore options. There are some wonderful liberal arts colleges that will provide a well rounded education where you may find what 'speaks' to you.
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Bianca’s Answer
I agree that visiting colleges is a great way to figure out whether a school is a good fit for you. I would recommend making a list of schools that you are interested in and then doing some research on their website to determine if they have a college visit program where they will fly you in. By participating in one of these, you will have the opportunity to experience what life on campus is like and this can help you narrow down your list. For example, you might discover that you prefer studying at a smaller liberal arts college than at a larger research university.
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Natalie’s Answer
Hi Chloe!
Some elements that I would consider first are the surface level aspects of any university (size, location, prestige, cost, etc.) to narrow down the range. I would then ask a lot of questions. Almost all college students would love to talk about their experiences with a prospective student. Don’t be afraid to reach out to complete strangers and be prepared with a lot of questions beforehand. Talking with an actual student may give you insights to the not so positive aspects that a school representative may not mention. Finally, if possible, I would try to visit campus if you can! Hearing about a school is never the same as being there yourself.
Some elements that I would consider first are the surface level aspects of any university (size, location, prestige, cost, etc.) to narrow down the range. I would then ask a lot of questions. Almost all college students would love to talk about their experiences with a prospective student. Don’t be afraid to reach out to complete strangers and be prepared with a lot of questions beforehand. Talking with an actual student may give you insights to the not so positive aspects that a school representative may not mention. Finally, if possible, I would try to visit campus if you can! Hearing about a school is never the same as being there yourself.
Updated
Jasmin’s Answer
Not having a major is not an issue. I know many people in college who have changed their major up to 5 times!! Taking GE's and various courses in college will help you find your interests!!
I think you should identify your values and look for schools that fit your interests. Also take a look at the environment produced by the school because it is very important that you feel comfortable and decide whether you are looking at out of state or instate schools.
Here are a couple of links you can look at that may help guide you through this process :
To help narrow down your search in colleges:
https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/college-search
* big future is really good at helping you look at school, programs you are interested in, careers and more!!!
to find: stats, ranking, best programs, application deadlines, SAT prep for a school of your interest.
https://www.niche.com/
I think you should identify your values and look for schools that fit your interests. Also take a look at the environment produced by the school because it is very important that you feel comfortable and decide whether you are looking at out of state or instate schools.
Here are a couple of links you can look at that may help guide you through this process :
To help narrow down your search in colleges:
https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/college-search
* big future is really good at helping you look at school, programs you are interested in, careers and more!!!
to find: stats, ranking, best programs, application deadlines, SAT prep for a school of your interest.
https://www.niche.com/
Updated
Simeon’s Answer
If you are not pursuing a degree like law or medicine, the specific college you attend will not have much impact on how useful the degree is. I'd recommend visiting college campuses, looking at their degree programs, and investigating the cost of enrolling. Don't attend a college that you will have to take out debt to attend if it won't provide something a more affordable college could also provide. Also, visiting campuses will give you the quickest idea of it is a good fit for you or not. If you don't have a specific degree in mind, I would recommend getting a general degree like accounting, finance, or marketing. Look up videos from people in these fields to get an honest opinion on what it is like for them to be in their fields and see if that meshes well with your idea of a good career.