Selecting a college That works for you: part 1

Selecting a college has life-long implications. So you want to do it right.

The good news:

There are more than 4,000 colleges and universities in the USA alone. This means there is a right school for everyone.

The bad news:

You have to choose from more than 4,000 colleges and universities in the USA alone!

Juniors and seniors have a lot on their plates: homework, tests, sports, clubs, activities, maybe a job. It doesn’t leave much room for fun. That is why NOW is the time to start researching where you want to apply for college. Not the applications themselves, but the overwhelming number of possibilities. In the process, you will discover that some of these applications are due before Thanksgiving. So let’s make your search easier with a short quiz!

At school I would rather

  1. know everybody and be known.
  2. be familiar with faces as I walk down the hall but have my own close group of friends to hang out with.
  3. do my own thing regardless of the students around me.
  4. I have not really given it much thought now that you mention it.

In class the teacher calls on me and I

  1. volunteer an answer because I have strong opinions.
  2. know the answer, but really wish I didn’t have to speak in front of my classmates.
  3. answer with a great degree of detail that goes over the head of most of my classmates.
  4. give an answer that makes the class laugh and the teacher roll her eyes.

Usually I learn best when I

  1. am participating in a discussion.
  2. am listening to someone else talk.
  3. read information on my own.
  4. My parents would really like to know the answer to this too.

If I had a choice I would

  1. live close to all my friends and constantly run into them on campus.
  2. see my friends at school and by arrangement only.
  3. go to school, get done what needs to be done, and leave.
  4. live at home, or at least in my hometown.

I am going to college because I

  1. want to explore the possibilities before I choose what I am going to do with the rest of my life.
  2. know what I want to major in already and have an idea of my career goals.
  3. need a degree to get what I want out of life.
  4. don’t have any other plan, and my parents want me to.

YOU!

Mostly 1s

You are a good fit for smaller schools. Often this means private liberal arts colleges, but not always. Some public universities out there offer a smaller scale that would meet your needs. Small residential colleges offer the opportunity to discover things you have not studied before (or be introduced to them in a whole new way) before deciding a major. Class sizes are small, often taught by professors, not graduate students, and your professor will get to know you reasonably well. You can’t be anonymous at these schools. But it also means developing a network of friends who will often be friends for life. There are more things to do than time to do them at small schools, and opportunities from student government to authoring papers with professors abound.

And do not be afraid of the price tag, see related blog post here.

Mostly 2s

You should think about some larger schools. This system works well for students with a high degree of autonomy and responsibility because unlike high school, no one will track you down if you don’t show up for class. Classes are often larger, 150-300 students in a large lecture hall, and you won’t be called on. There are plenty of opportunities at larger schools, but they will require you to take more initiative. For instance, if you have difficulty in a subject, you will need to hold yourself accountable for getting to the tutoring center. No one is going to ask you if you have done it. Or if you want a summer internship, you will need to get yourself to the career development office and make personal contacts so you are on their radar. You will likely have an academic advisor, but they won’t know you well enough to suggest classes you might not otherwise consider. Their job is to tally your credits and let you know how many you still need to graduate.

Mostly 3s

You might prefer a commuter school where people are often quite focused and not interested in anything other than the classroom requirements. These days you have options. Community colleges are well suited to adult learners who are as focused as you, as well as those who are in the exploration stage. Depending on your interests, you might even find a specialized college focused on your subject area. You could also accomplish your objectives at a large school and simply not participate in the social scene as much. However, keep in mind that the networks you may eventually need to get that dream job require investing time in relationships. A huge number of jobs are filled by word of mouth, so having people remember you for the right reasons may give you an advantage in a job interview.

Mostly 4s

Have you considered a gap year? If you really are not sure what you want to do, are not gung-ho about school in general, and college is more a default than deliberate choice, you might be wasting your time and money. Sometimes it is healthy to get some “real life” experience before getting your degree. Working for a living can be eye-opening and provide focus. After being out of school for a while, college or even trade school might look like a good alternative. You may feel more motivated after a break, have a better idea of what is important to you, and have matured enough to move on to the next step in your life.

Next Step: Part II How to narrow down the choices geographically