How To Choose The Right College
College is a challenging and demanding phase in a teenager’s life as he or she aims to obtain a bachelor’s degree. How he achieves this goal depends largely on his dedication to his studies as well as on the college or university that he chooses. Picking the right college may be stressful but the trick is to do your search as early as possible so you can have more time in selecting the best one for you.
Guidance counselors strongly recommend a self-assessment of students still in the process of determining what to major in and what school to attend college. Evaluate yourself by learning your strengths and weaknesses, your interests and your goals in life. Parents should also be there to guide their teens as they prepare to enter a new phase in their lives which will determine their future.
In selecting the right college, there are several major things to consider such as the type of school, its reputation, its size, student population, student-to-teacher ratio, degree programs, curriculum, location, housing and dining options, social life and extra-curricular activities. Getting as much information as you can about your prospective colleges should be a priority.
The ideal time to start looking for a good college is while still in junior high school.
At this stage, you may already be thinking about what career to pursue in the future and what course to major in. This information will surely help you in finding colleges or universities that offer this course.
Make a list of your criteria in selecting colleges. Consider the location and ask yourself if you want to study near your home or away. What about the size and student population of the college? Do they offer scholarships and other means of financial assistance? Is it a reputable and accredited school? Other criteria you may want to take into account are the tuition fees, room and board costs, student-faculty ratio, graduation rate, internship programs, safety in campus, social life, religious affiliation if any and housing options such as dorms, apartments or living at home.
Based on your criteria, be sure to create a complete list of possible colleges and universities. Get as much information as you need on each college. Information on colleges can be obtained from books and websites dedicated to this subject — there are plenty on the internet with some of them even offering a virtual tour of the campus. Of course, you can also get the suggestions of your family, friends as well as your teachers and guidance counselors in high school. Do attend college fairs, too, where you can have the chance to personally meet school officials and their representatives and get a copy of their brochures.
After gathering information, you can already narrow down your list to say, ten or less. The next step then is to schedule your visit to the colleges in your new list. You can visit schools and take a campus tour along with your friends or family. A tour is definitely the best way to get a feel of the college. You can join the guided tour or you can tour on your own, meet the students, eat in their cafeteria and interview some staff of the school. If the location of some schools in your list is not within easy reach, then take a virtual tour over the internet and talk to people who have studied in that school.
Apply to schools that you are now considering. Your decision will depend on what you think is right for you and in part to your financial situation because most colleges require application fees. And while waiting for any feedback, look for scholarships that could help you financially during your schooling. Check closely the financial packages offered in the college that you really want to study in. You may negotiate with the school if you want.
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