College Selection Guru

Teenagers who just got out of high school usually have mixed feelings over what to do next after graduation. Some are excited to get a job right away but majority look forward to college life during which they can live and study on their own. The transition from high school to college may not be that easy but with the support of parents and guidance counselors, many teenagers will be encouraged to attend college.

College is the more serious phase in a person’s pursuit for higher education. Making it through college depends on a student’s attitude, study habits and skills especially as he or she lives away from home and start an independent life. A teenager’s future career also depends on what degree he or she finishes.

Different surveys have found that high school graduates, regardless of race and ethnic background, see the importance of college but have differences in attitudes while some feel they lack the skills expected of them in college and in work. The survey by Public Agenda entitled “Life After High School,” revealed that majority of young adults value a college education as it prepares them for the real world, increases chances of promotion and lets them earn a living. More women enjoy being in school while 86 percent of young adults said their parents instilled in them the value of a college degree.

Getting a college education is definitely worth it. One greatest benefit you will gain after earning a degree is the opportunity and options that will be made available to you. You will get the opportunity to broaden your knowledge on various fields of study and especially on your field of interest. While pursuing your post secondary education, you will have the chance to read more books on different subjects and listen to lectures of top experts in their respective fields. This will entice students to think, investigate and explore new ideas thereby promoting growth and development.

A college degree also gives graduates the opportunity to be employed in a company or organization and earn income. It also enables students to gain valuable connections that could help them when they start searching for jobs. And while employed, having a college degree assures you of more promotion opportunity.

A college education should challenge students and not discourage them. It is vital that they have a supportive family as well as the right attitude (self-confidence, perseverance, patience, diligence) from the start to enable them to reach their academic goals. Sometimes, it is when teenagers are away from their family that they make great achievements in their young life particularly when it concerns their studies and extra-curricular activities.

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People normally equate a professor to a teacher and vice versa. True, they both have the responsibility to impart knowledge on students and encourage them to discover new things. However, there is much more to being a professor if we were to dig deeper.

College professors are usually involved in research and sometimes, they tend to set aside teaching in favor of research.  In colleges and universities, research is given more priority over teaching such that high profile professors ignore their teaching performance. Although it is a fact that outstanding research can bring in more money, the effect of putting more emphasis on such work is detrimental to students.

The debate continues as to why research professors are not good teachers.

everal factors point to this truth as found by many academic experts. High profile research professors are intellectuals and experts in their respective fields. The downside is that with their high intelligence, they tend to ignore the basics which show in their way of teaching. They assume that their students understand what they say in one session such that they skip so many things. Others believe that the so-called “star professors” do not have great interest to teach as they consider it a chore. But they don’t have much choice since professors are required to teach a certain number of hours in universities.

The conflicts between research and teaching have been investigated by Professor Morris Kline. Good teaching, he says, needs fulltime dedication which can be pursued only by those who are willing to master the art. He pointed out several factors that contribute to good teaching like extent of knowledge and effectively communicating it to students, learning what backgrounds students bring to class, knowing your students well and how they think, encouraging questions from them and motivating them. These factors, however, are not inherent in most research professors.

Professor Kline pointed out that teachers and professors differ in personalities. Although research professors are kind and polite, they are not effective communicators. Many are the introvert type who just keep to themselves. When teaching, they are meticulous with their material and write it on the board such that class time is limited to copying what was written there. When asked questions in class, they feel bothered and tend to depart from their prepared lectures. They usually get irritated when interrupted in the middle of their lectures.

Many researchers do not have any interest in teaching. In fact, when a university hires a research professor, a light teaching load is usually offered apart from a high pay. University officials do know that researchers are not keen on teaching hence besides a minimum teaching time, they encourage professors to conduct a course or seminar in their specialized field.

The demands of research and teaching greatly vary. Although both can be pursued at the same time, it’s not always possible that a professor can be good at both. It does not always follow that research professors are good at teaching and that teachers should engage in research. One is distinct from the other.

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Fulltime professors abound in small colleges while there are more adjunct or part-time professors in large universities. Adjuncts now account for almost half of all college and university teachers in the U.S. The Department of Education disclosed that between 1995 and 1997, more than two-thirds of new professors were hired on a part-time basis only.

The presence of fulltime professors can really benefit college students. This implies that more attention is given to students and more emphasis is placed on their learning process. With professors teaching on a fulltime basis, coursework proves to be more challenging and rigid and students are encouraged to contribute to and actively participate in class. Fulltime professors in small colleges usually care more about their students than those in universities who are more concerned about doing research than teaching classes. The more personalized instruction available in colleges is due to the smaller class size which gives professors the opportunity to have a face-to-face interaction with their students.

On the other hand, a high number of adjunct professors in universities and colleges could mean less intensive teaching and less challenging learning experience. Most often than not, adjunct professors get low salaries without benefits. Being part-timers only, they tend to juggle several teaching jobs and commute daily to and from different schools in various locations. These factors may lead them to be less focused in teaching their courses at just one university making them less effective teachers than fulltime professors. This is, perhaps, the biggest disadvantage of adjunct teachers. Research has found that part-timers often use the traditional method of teaching and fail to include new methods thereby undermining the integrity of the college teaching profession. However, results of studies done on the differences in the quality of teaching by fulltime and part-time faculty remain inconclusive.

On the positive side, a review on the growth of part-time faculty in community colleges revealed that adjunct teachers provide “real word vocational experience” to the institution. This is seen as an advantage in that these part-timers enrich the students’ academic preparation for their future professions.

In choosing the right college for you, decide whether you want a personalized instruction from professors or be in an institution where you’re just a number in class and which utilize more part-time teachers. Consider the advantages and disadvantages of the two types of teachers in colleges and universities because they play an important role in earning your desired associate’s or bachelor’s degree. How they deliver their instructions to you is vital in your pursuit of gaining quality college education.

College means studying for four years or more in a new and bigger campus most often away from home. Many teenagers grab this opportunity to attend school far away from their small towns and venture in the big city. College is the stage in life when most teens become independent as they try to live on their own.

Students who prefer to study in colleges and universities away from home need to consider the housing and eating options (room and board)  available in their chosen institution. Majority of universities are situated not in the heart of large cities but in small cities or even towns. Some colleges, though, are located at the center of urban areas close to many facilities. But whatever the location, students should decide whether to stay in housing facilities like dormitories on-campus or rent apartments off-campus along with friends. Eating options should not be missed while searching for places to stay. College students need all the nutrients they could get to stay fit while in school. Studies have found that college students often encounter eating problems due to lifestyle changes, limited finances, irregular part time jobs and homework loads.

Housing options – either room only or room and board — are not available at all schools.  On-campus housing is usually not offered at community colleges while some schools only provide housing for college undergraduates or for freshmen and sophomore students only. Check each school for more information by visiting the campus or searching the school’s web site. Include meal plans in your search as well because your nutrition while in school also counts a lot.

For the first two years of college, experts advise teens to stay in dorms inside the campus. This is to get the feel for the real college environment. During your junior and senior years, you may already opt to stay in apartments near the school. Dormitories offer several options for student accommodations. They have single rooms exclusive for one person only, double rooms for two students and rooms which can accommodate more than two people. In order to initially get a feel for the dorm life in your prospective colleges, spend a night there during your campus visit. One edge of dormitories is its proximity to classrooms and other school facilities hence, no need for a car. Some dorms have a guest program that allows students who plan to stay there and who pay in advance, to stay at least one night just to find out the atmosphere there.

Students have various eating options while on-campus. Dorms offer flexible meal plans along with rooms and may be charged separately. You may opt to pay in advance for your three daily meals or you may deposit a certain amount at the start of the semester. Other places to eat would be the cafeteria and

Off campus, there are a variety of housing options to choose from such as halls, suites, apartments, residential colleges and language houses. Apartments, normally fully furnished, can usually accommodate four to six people who should be responsible for keeping the place clean. Students must provide their own food, linens, cooking and eating utensils and bathroom items. They have the freedom to prepare their own meals while renting an apartment.

Depending on the student learning preferences and the subject material of the class, the student to teacher ratio can be extremely important.  Many students need the ability to get personal attention and access to the professor during and after classes.  It’s easy to get overwhelmed and feel helpless in very large classes.

The learning capacity of students varies. Some perform well even in large classes with a more fast-paced setting while others opt for small classes with a more personalized instruction. The size of a class most often influences the level of knowledge gained by students. It is, therefore, crucial to check the average number of students in a class in picking the right college or university for you.

The total number of students can give you an idea of how big the college is. A small school has less than two thousand students, a medium college’s student population ranges from more than 2,000 to less than 10,000 while a large college usually has more than 10,000 students. You can calculate the student-to-teacher ratio by dividing the number of students enrolled in the institution by the number of teachers.

However, you need to be careful, because even when performing this calculation, you could end up getting surprised when your freshman classes are a lot larger than you expected.   Many schools have research professors that teach either zero or very few classes.  Other schools have a policy of giving junior and senior students more attention than freshman and sophomore students, thus skewing the student to teacher ratio much lower than it will be during your first two years.

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Parents always want the best quality education for their children especially when they reach college. This is the reason why many parents make sure to be involved in the college selection process of their teenager. Their opinion and suggestion will surely guide a child who may still be undecided on what subject to pursue.

A major consideration among parents and teens alike in choosing colleges and universities is a broad-based, high-quality curriculum.  Rather than finding a college with just a single focus (like engineering), many people want a quality education for all their courses whether they be in the sciences or humanities.

To learn more about this, find out how many courses are being taught at the school and the way they are delivered to students. Are there enough courses on humanities and social sciences? Many people believe that less spoon feeding and more space to learn and grow are best for students. Others agree that lesser courses mean better quality education. Some universities require as low as 32 courses for a certain major while some have as much as 60 courses involved in the undergraduate curriculum.

Find out how many electives are included in the curriculum. These electives give students the opportunity to learn what they are most interested in. Some colleges give their students the freedom to choose their electives while some have slots for electives which are treated differently. The slots may actually be the school’s choice and not the student’s. Electives may either be professional or open.

A diverse curriculum is what many colleges and universities in the U.S. and the rest of the world are trying to achieve today to ensure a quality education. A national survey on this trend has found that people find it essential to “require students to take at least one cultural and ethnic diversity course to graduate.” Another survey done by the American Association of Colleges and Universities (AACU) suggests that every college student should gain knowledge on issues of diversity in the U.S. as part of their college curriculum. The AACU report stressed that students need both global and domestic knowledge.

Of the different existing models for diversity requirements, the most common model found requires students to take one course among different approved diversity courses. The other models require students to take one course with a shared syllabus or have a diversity requirement within one or more major.

To find out more information about curriculum, check with the admissions office. Or you may personally ask students and faculty members during your campus visit. Students and teachers involved in the more traditional fields, notably in chemistry, match and economics with a demanding intellectual structure, are in a better position to tell you whether the courses in that particular college or university have real substance.

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It is sometimes hard and confusing to decide what course to pursue in college and what career to take on in the future. But you must know that being able to determine what you want in life will guide you in choosing a major and the right college as well.

Think about your goals in life and how you see yourself five or ten years from now. It’s natural though that your long-term goals may be altered through time but what matters is that you have a plan. A plan can be your map in your travel towards the future. This should include your personality, goals, values and academic strengths and weaknesses which will help you determine what to look for in colleges and universities. Knowing yourself well will also help you make a good presentation of yourself during interviews and in the essays you submit.

To help you select a major, consider a course that will give you a huge potential for personal development. Try to ask yourself if this major will help you develop as a human being, will give you an opportunity to gain a wider perspective of the world and will enable you to understand the things you are curious about. In other words, look for a major you are very interested in.

If you’re thinking of pursuing graduate studies after college, then pick a major that will give you a good foundation for the professional areas you are targeting to enter. A history major will greatly benefit those who wish to enter a graduate program in law, library science and urban planning.

Consider also a combination of a marketable liberal arts and sciences major and a technical minor. You can major in a subject you really like and one that will guarantee an employment after graduation. Your minor can be in some field you enjoy but not one you actually consider as a career potential. Who knows, having two courses will make you more attractive to employers.

By now, you should have an idea on what to major in college and what schools your prefer. However, if you’re still not satisfied, you can consult your college guidance counselor. You may set an appointment if your school does not have a regular schedule for counseling for juniors and seniors. You can visit the guidance counselor as often as you wish while still in school. He or she can provide you with information on college fairs where you can personally meet school representatives and can give you helpful tips on taking tests, filling up applications and searching for financial aid. More importantly, the guidance counselor can assist you in what course to pursue based on your interests and academic performance. Be open to him or her about any apprehensions you may have regarding choosing a course and an appropriate school.

Currently, there are various subjects or fields of study to choose from. Under these subjects are more specific areas where you can major. The most popular majors being pursued by teens in the U.S. today are in business, psychology and education. A survey has found that the top ten majors preferred by college students include Business Administration, Business Management, Psychology, Elementary Education, Education, Biology, Nursing, English, Computer Science and Political Science. Be sure to find out, too, the courses involved and other requirements you may need to accomplish in your chosen field.

A large university has its good share of benefits. However, there are also disadvantages which you might want to know in your search for a reputable college for you.

A large school means a large student body numbering at least six thousand. This also means that a class will have a student-to-teacher ratio of about 100 students at a minimum to one teacher. With a large number of students in a class, a teacher will no longer have enough time to oversee the needs of each student. This will eventually lead students to feel less noticed by their faculty. Often, the teacher’s assistants are the ones who accommodate questions of students.

The size of the student body alone can result in ineffective communication between teachers and students. The setting then becomes less challenging such that efforts toward teaching and learning suffer. A student may also be discouraged in this setting as he becomes a number only in class unlike in a college with a small student-to-teacher ratio where teachers know their students by name and supervise them one by one.

Many teachers in universities are adjunct or those who work on a part-time basis only. These part-timers normally receive low salary with little or no benefits and do not security of tenure in their work. This factor may lead them to be less dedicated to their teaching profession in one university compared to the other school where they get better pay. Fulltime professors, on the other hand, may be more focused on their research and have less interest in teaching which is detrimental to students. Fulltime professors sometimes take in teacher assistants to do the teaching in class as their research, which earns them more money, is more important to them.

Many large universities are located in urban areas. This may also pose a problem notably concerning public transportation (buses are always full) and in availing of the city’s services where long lines are a daily occurrence.

Also, the Greek system (fraternities and sororities) exists in large universities. This can also cause a problem on the part of students who are not comfortable with the Greek life. If fraternities and sororities dominate a university’s social life, chances are the pressure to join such groups is high and other options outside of the institution may be very limited. Although these groups do get involved in worthwhile activities, they have a negative connotation for some students.

The huge size of the campus can discourage students who will have to walk far distances in going to and from their classes. This is especially true for students who do not own a car. Having to walk far every day may affect the student’s ability to concentrate in class as his energy is depleted.

There are many types of colleges and universities for you to choose from. In choosing the school for your college education, one vital characteristic you will have to take into account is the size of the institution. Size here pertains not only to the campus but to the student body and overall scope of the school as well.

A large university normally has a student population of more than six thousand undergraduates. The size of the student body varies from school to school but some state universities claim more than 50,000 enrolled undergraduate and graduate students.

Large universities have many advantages over the smaller institutions. The most obvious advantage of a university is the great scope of learning it offers students and the access to scholars who are communicating and discovering knowledge at the same time.

Quality education is the most important benefit a student can gain from a large university. Various degrees in numerous academic fields are offered. Large universities also have specialized programs in specific and even less popular fields of study. Professors and researchers are top caliber as well.

Large universities have more financial resources because they have more students and alumni. Having more money gives them the ability to employ top faculty and maintain high-quality facilities for education (libraries) and recreation (sports facilities).

A wide range of activities both academic and extra-curricular are available to accommodate a large number of students in a big community. In fact, sub-communities are often created in large universities making the students feel more at home. The activities to choose from are those of the sports teams, academic clubs, university newspapers and drama productions which are all aimed at further developing the students’ skills.

Many large universities are more affordable. This is so because many are supported by their respective state government to offset tuition costs. Low cost housing and public transportation are also within reach as these large schools are often located in urban areas. A wide range of course schedules is provided as well to allow students to attend classes and at the same time, work either part-time or full-time.

A large university has a social life which many students find beneficial. This means there are more people to meet and many social, cultural and sports activities to participate in. The fraternities and sororities are another venue for students to widen their circle of friends and engage in worthwhile outreach projects.

Large universities accommodate students of all types regardless of gender, race and religion. Many implement a non-discrimination policy which is indeed a big advantage especially to international students.

Another benefit is that many universities have included internship or voluntary work placements and overseas study programs in their curriculum. This is one way of preparing students for local and international work settings after graduating.

While liberal arts colleges offer huge benefits, they also have some disadvantages. Foremost is financial consideration. There’s a big difference in the cost of education in a state school and a private one. In the U.S., the average cost of going to a public school is about $13,000 while you need about $31,000 to go to a private school. This is the reason why some students seek financial aid in enrolling in a liberal arts college.

Debt is another problem students may face. For students who finance their liberal arts education through student loans amounting to thousands of dollars, paying them can really be a burden.

Liberal arts colleges are usually located in small towns. While some students may like the close-knit atmosphere, others may not. What happens most of the time when everyone already knows each other is that gossip spreads so quickly. Cliques may also exist.

The school’s lack of diversity is another disadvantage. Many students want to be exposed to different people and ideas and a liberal arts college cannot offer this opportunity. There are also fewer people to meet because everyone knows everybody already.

Some students find liberal arts colleges too nurturing with professors acting like parents and their students are very sheltered. This is so unlike the real world, they would say. With only smaller classes, teachers can focus on their students providing a more personalized or one-on-one instruction. Interaction between students and teachers is always possible and teachers have the opportunity to really get to know their students well. This setting sometimes discourages students who want to explore things on their own.

Few majors and class options are another problem in small liberal arts colleges. Normally, colleges focus on specific courses only and do not cover all fields of study hence, they differ in their strengths. For instance, one college may put more emphasis on scientific and pre-professional fields and offer only a few courses on drama, music and the arts. Another college may focus exclusively on humanities and the arts such as drama and music or may focus more on the arts with a few courses on the scientific fields.

Some liberal arts colleges do not have much financial resources and this is evident in their equipment, facilities, libraries and faculty. Although these colleges rely on their own resources, what counts is that these resources can serve the students well.

Activities are also not so many compared to large universities that offer various clubs and organizations. There are also no major sports teams which is why some students find liberal arts colleges lifeless.