College Selection Guru

In choosing your college, you should already have a major in mind or perhaps, a career which you would like to pursue in the future. The field of study in which you plan to specialize is known as your major. This is not required though when you enter a university. However, if you have a specific course of study planned early on, this could serve as your basis in picking a good college for you.

If you have a particular specialization within a certain field of study that you’d like to pursue, identifying which schools offer that specialized course will enable you to make a list of your possible colleges. Examples of specializations are painting, broadcast communication, marketing management and so on.

Most directories of universities in the U.S. classify schools according to their most commonly offered majors. To get more detailed information, it’s best to do your research on the internet. Most schools have their own websites and there are also sites that focus exclusively on colleges and universities.

Once you have narrowed down your list of prospective schools, the next thing to do is to study their degree program structure specifically, the course catalog and course descriptions. Some degree programs are highly structured while some may be flexible enough to accommodate international students who want to pursue courses based on their interests. Universities, however, normally prescribe which courses students must take and when they should take them to graduate with a major in that field. This ruling does not allow student athletes to take a lighter load during the playing season nor does it permit students to take a double major.

Be sure to verify the requirements of any majors you wish to take. If, for instance, you want to major in journalism but also want to obtain a background in business, check what the journalism degree requires. Is it flexible to allow you to take additional business courses? Or is there a particular program for students who wish to combine journalism with a related subject?

Requirements of liberal arts colleges for their courses may also vary. In some colleges, students may be asked to enroll in certain classes in each of the broad subjects while the other schools only recommend that students finish a general education.

As for extra-curricular activities, find out about the organizations existing in the school especially those that cater to your interests. Membership in these student organizations will further boost your learning and social skills. The existence of these groups will let you know of the interests and concerns of the school’s student body. However, if there’s no organization related to your field, don’t despair. You can always create a new one with the other students who share your interest.

It’s not always easy to choose which college is best for you. But then, if you know what you need in attaining your college degree, then it will surely be a big help.
One important factor to consider in selecting a college is if it matches your learning needs.

Quality education is often what students and parents look for in a school. In your search for a good college, check then academic emphasis of the university. Find out if they emphasize professional education or liberal arts and if the campus is dominated by undergraduate or graduate students. For many liberal arts colleges, the focus is on teaching and interaction between students and professors instead of research. This is the reason why the teacher-to-student ratio in this type of school is very low.

Meanwhile, research-oriented colleges normally have more graduate students with state-of-the-art facilities and internationally-renowned professors. Graduate students though are the ones who teach in the first and second-year classes instead of professors. This is also the case in large universities where there’s a huge population of undergraduate freshman and sophomore students.

Another thing to consider in checking for quality education is the student-to-teacher ratio. Professors are usually the ones who teach at a college with fewer graduate students. This is in contrast to big universities where often graduate students do the teaching in the first and second year undergraduate classes. A professor-led class is more beneficial as it requires students to contribute to the class right from the start. A high student-to-teacher ratio means that classes will be large and the attention a faculty can give to each student will be lesser.

The kind of instructors and professors that teach in a college should also be given priority if quality education is your target. Find out from the admissions office about them, their achievements, specialization and style of teaching, if possible. You can also ask other students who have been under them in the previous years.

Check also the types of students that go to your college like if they’re scholars or if they graduated from the top of their class in high school. You can get some information on this from most university directories and catalogs which list the number of applicants and the students admitted in the previous year along with their Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) scores and grade point average (GPA). The school’s rigid selection process should also give you a clue.

The school’s facilities such as the library are also vital. For many students who opt to attend a college or university away from home, the library can serve as their learning sanctuary. A large, well-equipped and peaceful library will definitely be a source of inspiration to students and a great place to absorb knowledge.

A campus tour is very vital in choosing the right college or university for you. Most schools offer a guided tour that informs students and their families about the history of the college, courses offered and sports teams. The tour primarily aims to give prospective students an early feel for the school.

Summer is usually the busiest time for college tours. Many families often go with their teens to visit schools while on vacation. Some, however, prefer to start visiting schools during spring when colleges and universities are still abuzz with students and activities.

During your visit to each school, be sure to attend an admissions-information session to learn more about application deadlines, testing requirements, academic programs and financial packages. This should be done before a campus tour.

Make the most of your campus tour by exploring certain parts of the school and its adjacent neighborhood. You and your parents can hang around at the student center or cafeteria and talk to some teens there. Be sure to visit the library as well to find out how students use them. Read the bulletin boards along the way to give you an idea of the clubs and campus events. An empty board may be a sign of an inactive student body.

Check out the students who attend the college like if they admit bright teenagers. At least you would know if the school offers a challenging education. Speak with some faculty, if possible, to learn about the instructors that you might have.

Scheduling an interview with the admissions staff is also important. Show them that you’re interested because it can make a difference in your chances of obtaining a scholarship.

Some students, who really want to get a personal experience being part of the school, sit in classes or spend a night in a college dorm room. This is also possible as many private schools have formal guest programs at their dorms for seniors.

To many families, summer is the best time to check out the colleges for their teens. However, there are other times when you can do your campus visits like November when students are deciding to apply. March and April are also ideal because these months are when students have already been admitted and must choose what school to attend.

If you can’t make a scheduled campus tour, your next best option is a virtual tour of the school. College websites usually offer campus tours online. Podcast tours are also the latest stuff being offered by some schools.

Parents should enjoy these campus tours with their teens because they need all your support as they are about to enter a new phase in their lives. This is also a good time to bond with each other so grab the opportunity. Get their impression of the schools you visit and compare them with yours. In this way, parents will be able to understand where their teenagers will be most comfortable for the next four years of their college education.

Evaluating your strengths and weaknesses as well as your goals in life is essential in your search for a good college or university. Assessing your personality will also help you in presenting yourself to the colleges you intend to apply to. Being honest and serious in achieving your goals will show in your interviews and in the essays you submit along with your applications. Below are the major criteria you will need in selecting the right college for you.

Type of college – There are generally two types — private and public.

Type of education – Which do you want — liberal arts or professional training?

Major – The fields of study that you are interested in.

Student-to-teacher ratio – Large universities tend to have huge student population hence, more students per teacher in a class while colleges have fewer students.

Cost – Your financial situation matters a lot so choose colleges that you can afford. Calculate your tuition, cost of room, food, travel and other expenses for the full four years, if possible. Find out about the payment terms of various schools.

Location – Consider where you would like to study, the area’s climate and its accessibility to facilities and services that may be useful to you during your schooling. Campuses in the cities offer more variety in food, entertainment and cultural facilities while those in the rural areas are more peaceful and conducive to studying.

Housing – Check the difference in fees for on-campus and off-campus housing. Find out the living arrangements like if a room is shared by two or more students or if there’s also a room available for one person only. For the first two years, it’s advisable that you live on campus to help you blend well into the university life. You will save additional expenses like paying for daily public transportation and you need lesser time in traveling back and forth to campus every day.

Social life – Most colleges provide social, cultural and sports activities apart from the academic programs. Find out if the students live on or off campus, whether they commute to classes and go home to family every weekend or just stay in school.

Fraternities and sororities – The Greek system as what they are called exists in most colleges and universities. Fraternities (for males) and sororities (for females) do not cater only to social life like holding parties but also hold philanthropic activities.

Affiliations – All colleges in the U.S. admit all kinds of students regardless of race, color or religious belief. But you must know that many schools were established with a particular mission such as providing a religious atmosphere on campus or a single-sex education or a mixed student population. The school’s mission statement should give you an idea on this.

Extracurricular activities – These include sports teams, academic clubs, university papers, drama productions and other programs that allow students to develop their other skills.

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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