6 answers
Grace
Student
Elk River, Minnesota
4
Questions
Asked
943 views
How did you pick a college to go to? What made you interested in a certain one?
I'm trying to figure out how to pick a college but I know there are a lot of factors to go in that
Login to comment
6 answers
Emily Street
Sales
4
Answers
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Updated
Emily’s Answer
Hello Grace,
It's fantastic to hear about your ambition to pursue higher education! Reflecting on my own journey, I realize the importance of in-depth research prior to making a decision. Looking back, I might have opted for an Ivy League, given the prestige and the potential career advantages it offers. Here are some key points I suggest you consider in your decision-making process:
1. Compile a list of potential colleges
2. Prioritize your needs and desires
3. Schedule visits to college campuses (you'll instinctively feel whether a campus is the right fit for you)
4. Consider the financial implications and overall cost
5. Weigh the advantages and disadvantages of each college
6. Take into account the location
7. Research the majors you're interested in and their national rankings (the higher, the better)
8. Think about the size of the school (would you prefer to be a big fish in a small pond or a small fish in a big pond?)
9. Investigate the campus environment and support services available (like tutoring, healthcare, counseling, etc.)
Remember, this is your journey, and I'm here to assist you if you need any help. Best of luck!
Warm regards,
Em
It's fantastic to hear about your ambition to pursue higher education! Reflecting on my own journey, I realize the importance of in-depth research prior to making a decision. Looking back, I might have opted for an Ivy League, given the prestige and the potential career advantages it offers. Here are some key points I suggest you consider in your decision-making process:
1. Compile a list of potential colleges
2. Prioritize your needs and desires
3. Schedule visits to college campuses (you'll instinctively feel whether a campus is the right fit for you)
4. Consider the financial implications and overall cost
5. Weigh the advantages and disadvantages of each college
6. Take into account the location
7. Research the majors you're interested in and their national rankings (the higher, the better)
8. Think about the size of the school (would you prefer to be a big fish in a small pond or a small fish in a big pond?)
9. Investigate the campus environment and support services available (like tutoring, healthcare, counseling, etc.)
Remember, this is your journey, and I'm here to assist you if you need any help. Best of luck!
Warm regards,
Em
Jennifer Blondman
Attorney
8
Answers
New York, New York
Updated
Jennifer’s Answer
Hi, There are so many different factors to consider - such as size of the school, location, different programs, student life, cost, extracurriculars, etc. In my personal experience, I knew I wanted to "smaller" school so hat helped to filter my search a bit. From there, I looked at the different programs offered by schools that were on the smaller size and in the geographic location I was interested in. I would recommend applying to several - some "reach" schools, some "safety" schools, etc. to best position yourself for success. College is a big transition and finding the right fit is so important! Wishing you the best of luck!
Ben Ryrie
IT Director
4
Answers
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Updated
Ben’s Answer
Really important decision - my advice when choosing a college would be:
- Academic Programs: Ensure the college offers the majors and courses aligning with your career goals.
- Accreditation: Verify the college is accredited for recognized degrees.
- Location: Consider the climate, proximity to home, and community setting.
- Campus Culture: Assess the atmosphere, size, diversity, and extracurricular activities.
- Cost and Financial Aid: Evaluate overall expenses and explore financial aid options.
- Internship and Job Placement: Check the college's record in helping students secure internships and jobs.
- Class Size and Student-to-Faculty Ratio: Consider smaller class sizes for personalized attention.
- Facilities and Resources: Examine the quality of facilities, libraries, and laboratories.
- Reputation and Alumni Network: Explore the college's reputation and alumni connections.
- Post-Graduation Outcomes: Research employment rates and graduate school acceptance rates.
Wishing you good luck!
- Academic Programs: Ensure the college offers the majors and courses aligning with your career goals.
- Accreditation: Verify the college is accredited for recognized degrees.
- Location: Consider the climate, proximity to home, and community setting.
- Campus Culture: Assess the atmosphere, size, diversity, and extracurricular activities.
- Cost and Financial Aid: Evaluate overall expenses and explore financial aid options.
- Internship and Job Placement: Check the college's record in helping students secure internships and jobs.
- Class Size and Student-to-Faculty Ratio: Consider smaller class sizes for personalized attention.
- Facilities and Resources: Examine the quality of facilities, libraries, and laboratories.
- Reputation and Alumni Network: Explore the college's reputation and alumni connections.
- Post-Graduation Outcomes: Research employment rates and graduate school acceptance rates.
Wishing you good luck!
Diane Gibson
Underwriter
58
Answers
Frankenmuth, Michigan
Updated
Diane’s Answer
Hi Grace, things to consider are the size, location and the distance from home. Are you looking for smaller classes and staying closer to home or you ok being part of larger classes and being further away from home. Investigate available majors for those colleges you are interest in and if they meet your academic needs and potential career choices. Make sure to go visit and take a tour of colleges you are interested in and collect as much information as you can: what is the campus atmosphere like, what is the make up of the student body, what type of extracurricular activities/student organizations do they offer, campus safety, what type of housing options are available. A college is going to be your home for the next 4+ years so make sure any college will meet your academic, social and emotional needs. Best of luck!
Olivia McDonnell
Consulting
23
Answers
Los Angeles, California
Updated
Olivia’s Answer
There are a lot of factors that go into it. I can share the factors I used and some that I wish I considered when I was going through the process.
1) Degree availability: The easiest way to narrow down the list of colleges is to confirm that they offer the degree you are interested in. If you are undecided about what to study, narrow the list down to universities with 2-3 majors that interest you. This increases the chances of being able to transfer credits between majors if you decide to switch programs.
2) Acceptance: Once you have narrowed down the list of schools with programs that interest you, compare yourself to their student profile. Make a list of schools which are stretch aspirations where you are slightly outside of their median test score averages, GPA, etc. Also make a list of schools where you fit the median profile. Lastly make a list of safety schools. These are the schools where your profile is "overqualified" based on their median ranges. Apply to a mix of schools from these three lists to maximize your chances of being accepted at least once.
3) Student Life Activities: Determine what is important to your when it comes to time outside of the classroom. Are you interested in studying abroad, sports, music, Greek Life, volunteering? Check out their student life section of the universities website and see if they offer opportunities that align with your interests.
4) Proximity to home and geography: Do you prefer big cities or small college towns? Is a car needed to get around campus or is it safe to walk? Do you want to go home frequently or are you ok with flying across the country?
5) Dorms: If you can visit campus, check out the dorms and food options. Are they appealing to you? Some schools invest heavily in housing options while others prioritize academic buildings and sports facilities. Do you want to live in a dorm solo, with one roommate, or are you ok with a suite of students you've never met before and may come with vastly different living habits.
6) Costs: See what scholarships are available for you at each of the schools you apply to. Also research scholarships which are available to you regardless of where you go to school. Do you prefer to graduate debt free or are you ok with repaying potentially 3-4 figures per month? If you plan to work during school, are there places in and around campus where you can find a job that would interest you?
1) Degree availability: The easiest way to narrow down the list of colleges is to confirm that they offer the degree you are interested in. If you are undecided about what to study, narrow the list down to universities with 2-3 majors that interest you. This increases the chances of being able to transfer credits between majors if you decide to switch programs.
2) Acceptance: Once you have narrowed down the list of schools with programs that interest you, compare yourself to their student profile. Make a list of schools which are stretch aspirations where you are slightly outside of their median test score averages, GPA, etc. Also make a list of schools where you fit the median profile. Lastly make a list of safety schools. These are the schools where your profile is "overqualified" based on their median ranges. Apply to a mix of schools from these three lists to maximize your chances of being accepted at least once.
3) Student Life Activities: Determine what is important to your when it comes to time outside of the classroom. Are you interested in studying abroad, sports, music, Greek Life, volunteering? Check out their student life section of the universities website and see if they offer opportunities that align with your interests.
4) Proximity to home and geography: Do you prefer big cities or small college towns? Is a car needed to get around campus or is it safe to walk? Do you want to go home frequently or are you ok with flying across the country?
5) Dorms: If you can visit campus, check out the dorms and food options. Are they appealing to you? Some schools invest heavily in housing options while others prioritize academic buildings and sports facilities. Do you want to live in a dorm solo, with one roommate, or are you ok with a suite of students you've never met before and may come with vastly different living habits.
6) Costs: See what scholarships are available for you at each of the schools you apply to. Also research scholarships which are available to you regardless of where you go to school. Do you prefer to graduate debt free or are you ok with repaying potentially 3-4 figures per month? If you plan to work during school, are there places in and around campus where you can find a job that would interest you?
Andrew Zheng
Consulting
3
Answers
New York, New York
Updated
Andrew’s Answer
Hi Grace! I think that the most important factor to consider is belonging. There are obviously many factors that can impact your college decision, including size, location, academic programs, etc. All of these factors boil down into helping you choose a school where you can truly see yourself growing and flourishing. You should think about the types of educational environments that you will truly enjoying being a part of, as this will allow you to be at your best.
Best of luck!
Best of luck!