WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A COLLEGE Cost Total cost of tuition, room and board? What types of financial aid are offered? Is the school located in an expensive city? Will you need a car to get to and from class? You don’t want to be burdened with excessive bills and accompanying stress. Before you finalize your school of choice, make sure you consider all potential costs. Location Where do you want to study? Do you want a school located in a city with nightlife and a lot of activity or in a rural area with a small-town feel? Pick a location you think will enhance your overall experience. Academic Programs What colleges have the majors you are looking for? What classes are required as a freshman? What are the graduation requirements? Academics are why you are there, so make sure the school has the curriculum you're looking for. Extracurricular Activities Do you play a sport? Do you want to play on a college level? Are you interested in joining a sorority? Extracurricular activities are an important complement to academics. Look for a school that offers activities that interest you and will inspire you to learn and grow. Size Larger schools usually have more classes and activities, but they also have larger classes, so you may receive less one-on-one time with instructors. Small schools offer more individual attention and often a better chance to get to know your professors on a personal basis, but they may not offer the same amount of courses or activities. Room And Board What is the housing situation? What condition are the dorms in? What meal plans are available? Are there apartments close by for off-campus living? Parking permits? Whether you are looking to live off campus or on, room and board is a significant expense, make sure there is affordable housing that meets your standards. Facilities What are the athletic centers like? Are there additional costs associated with them? What do facilities like classrooms, dining halls and the library look like? Above all, make sure the facilities meet your standards and lend themselves to a comfortable learning environment. Campus Environment What is life like outside the classroom? Are students welcomed by the surrounding community? Is there stuff to do on the weekends? Do a lot of students commute? Go home on the weekends? Going to college is more than just sitting in class, so take a good look at the overall campus environment. Retention And Graduation Rates What percentage of students drop out after the first year? What percentage graduates in four years? Five years? Figuring out if it takes more than four years to graduate will also help with your financial planning. How to Choose a Major ● Career Prep Choose a major because it will prepare you for a specific career path or advanced study. ● Earning Potential Future earning potential is worth considering—college is a big investment. Keep your quality of life in mind, too—that six figure salary may not be worth it if you're not happy at the office. ● ● ● ● ● ● Subjects You Love Some students choose a major simply because they love the subject matter. If you love what you're studying, you're more likely to fully engage with your classes and college experience, and that can mean better grades and great relationships with others in your field. List 10 things you love. Listing what you love doing, both inside or outside the classroom, is a great way to see possible paths you can take. If you enjoy art and drawing but you’re also interested in technology, consider majoring in graphic design. If you’re into business and traveling, investigate majoring in international business, Make a list of strengths and weaknesses. Figuring out your strengths and weaknesses can help you assess what kind of major to go into. Research possible careers. After jotting down your interests, skills, and values, research possible careers that match up with what you wrote. Here are some resources to learn more about careers and industries: Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Outlook Handbook, MyPlan.com, InsideJobs.com, Vault.com, CareerOverview.com After doing some research, write down a list of five careers that you find interesting and that match up with your interests, skills, and values. Match career to college major. Narrow down your career choices and look up which degrees would be most advantageous to your career choice. If you have an idea of what you’d like to do, get ahead of the game by matching your prospective career to a related college major. If you’re not sure which majors are related to specific careers, you can always talk to your high school guidance counselor, a college admissions counselor or advisor, or someone from a college’s career center. Estimate Future Earnings Find the Right Colleges for Your Major ● ● ● ● Filter schools based on state, setting, school size and more Publications tend to only include certain undergraduate programs, so you’ll likely have to do your own digging to find the best schools Cross-reference the articles, write down the universities that appear most often and add them to your list (NO articles beyond the past 5 years) Apply for as many scholarships and grants as possible
