After the last quiz, you should have an idea of what size school suits you. Now we need to look at geographical considerations.
Here are a few things to think about:
- Distance from home
- Urban, suburban or rural
- Weather
- Career opportunities
Let’s tackle these one at a time
When I go to college I:
- want to be close enough to see my family frequently
- want to be far enough my family will only see me during breaks
- want to to close enough I could get home easily, but far enough that no one drops in unannounced
If you answered “1” do this:
Draw a 60-mile radius around your house; those are your options. However, keep in mind commuting offers a very different experience than would dorm life. It is more difficult to make new friends, join activities (meetings frequently begin at 9 pm or later), and be spontaneous. A lot of learning happens outside the classroom, too.
Answer “2” leads to these options:
Why not explore a new area of the country, or even outside the country? You can always come home after graduation. Keep in mind that some colleges don’t take the full week of Thanksgiving off or have a fall break of four days. If you are on one side of the country and your family on the other, it could take an entire day just to travel, not to mention the expenses involved. As long as you are willing to go to a friend’s house or stay on campus for those shorter breaks, this is fine.
If you answered “3” try this:
Rule out everything two hours or fewer from home by car. Then the possibilities include both driving and flying time. For instance, it is a six-hour drive from Los Angeles to San Francisco, but only about an hour flight. If you are willing to consider flying, it increases the possibilities significantly.
Now that you have some general guidelines on distance from home, let’s dig deeper into the specific environment of the campus.
In my ideal college neighborhood:
- I see myself in a place where I can walk or take public transportation everywhere.
- I like to be close to the daily things I need, but don’t mind driving an hour or two for special events like concerts or plays.
- I don’t see myself leaving campus often, so location isn’t a factor.
Answer “1” sounds like you want an urban environment.
New York City, Chicago, San Francisco, or Washington, DC come to mind as a few of the possibilities. Notice how Southern California is missing from that list? Realistically Southern California requires a car to get around the complex freeway system of urban sprawl. Public transportation does exist, but it is not particularly efficient. That said, many campuses now participate in “Zip Car” or similar programs where you pay a small annual fee and have access to cars when you need them (great for avoiding the parking fees, maintenance, and insurance of having your own vehicle on campus.)
Answer “2” creates a long list of possibilities.
Most college campuses are within an hour or two of a major city. So if you prefer not to be distracted by the constant list of a city scene, or just don’t like urban city living, these campuses are great fits. Whether small town or suburbia, there are pharmacies, a few restaurants, and maybe even a karaoke bar within easy walking or at most driving distance.
That brings us to answer “3” – surprise!
Have you already visited some campuses? This is a great answer because what many high school students don’t realize is that colleges and universities spend tons of money to bring cool stuff, such as speakers, bands, and theater, to their students. The acts may not always be people you have heard of, but you will find them immensely interesting and varied nonetheless. And more often than not, they are well-known in the “real world,” which is why they were invited to campus in the first place.
Third consideration, the weather.
Snow enthusiasts might be miserable without the possibility of a good snowball fight, while beach people might dread leaving their dorm rooms and venturing through 30-degree weather to get to class. Either way, it is about getting the most out of your college experience, so let’s decide how important it is to you.
Which of the options best describes you?
- I am solar powered. No sun, no chance.
- I must have a real winter with snow.
- A change of seasons is fine with me, the weather isn’t a big deal.
“1” – outlook is sunny and bright
Well, that makes it easier as long as you can convince your parents you will actually do the work, not just sit in the sun all the time. And there are LOTS of schools in the South, Southwest, and West Coast where you can apply this criterion (including Hawaii, but good luck persuading your parents on that one.)
“2” – pack the cold weather gear
Again, clearly defines certain sections of the country, but offers more options than sun only. For instance, you could attend school in Southern California but be only an hour or two away from a ski resort if that would satisfy your need for cold weather and occasional snow. If you need to be immersed in it, then think Midwest and East Coast.
“3” – We need to drill down a bit more here.
How would you feel if fall colors didn’t happen until February, or if there were some 80-degree days in January? If you want traditional seasons and weather, on a traditional calendar, your choices will be different than if you are willing to have a smaller variation of temperatures all year round. For traditional seasons stick with schools in category 2 above.
Finally, let’s think beyond college graduation for a moment (I know, but hang in there, this is relevant).
As I head off to college:
- I am pretty certain I know what I want to do after college, and having internship opportunities during the school year would definitely make me stand out as a job candidate.
- I have some ideas, but summer internships would be more important than school year gigs.
- I don’t know what I want to do yet and will need the career office to help me figure it out.
Answering “1” tells you:
Be close to a city or the place where your industry is well represented. Think you want to go into the entertainment field? You need to be at a school with strong connections to the industry and opportunities to get hands-on practical experience in your junior and senior year. Thinking about finance? Major firms that offer internships are in urban areas for the most part. Networking is critical to getting good career advice, and proximity to the decision makers helps.
“2” covers many career paths.
Say you want to be a diplomat. There’s not much you can do during the school year to get experience. But an extended stay in another country during the summer would be a great choice. Geography is less of a factor because you can travel during the summer.
“3” – Great job being honest!
And truthfully, a lot of people who answered “1” or “2” will find themselves right where you are at some point. There are so many things you have not been exposed to yet; how could you possibly make a decision? And even when you think you know a subject, along comes a class that totally changes your opinion. Post-college career plans should not be a factor in your geographical criteria. Wherever you enroll, you will need to visit your career development office early and often. There are a huge array of self-assessments to help you figure out what skills you and what kinds of careers are seeking those skills.
Next Steps:
Using your new criteria, create accounts for a few college search engines such as Cappex.com, Naviance, CollegeInsight, Chegg, or other similar. Then start searching and researching those that look most interesting. Do NOT get caught up in the name game, some of the most amazing schools are not household names.