If you've started your research, your mailbox may already be filled with brochures and post cards from schools trying to win you over. When I was in high school, this made things incredibly difficult because they all promised me similar things: happiness, new friendships, the promise of a better future. Not to mention that I knew this could determine the outcome of the rest of my life.
No pressure, or anything.
My goal is to make things that much easier by giving you the top 4 factors you should examine when making your college pick. It helps to make a chart to categorize your schools and fill in how they measure up in each of these topics. Consider yourself a college student in training. Take notes, by golly!
1. ACADEMICS: THE REASON YOU'RE GOING IN THE FIRST PLACE
Statistics of 2013 say that those who earned a 4-year degree made an average of 98% more per hour than those who never attended.* It's no wonder people are flocking to enroll in programs that promise job security and more opportunities in the workforce.
So, when making the choice of which school to attend, academics should be in the top reasons of why. (Though, I must admit, my degree was psychology and I've gotten job offers just for simply having the degree, not my area of focus. Unless you want to be a doctor, then your major may not carry as much weight.)
You want to look for colleges whose programs rank in your the fields of study you're interested in. They don't have to be number one, but you want them to rank at least somewhere in the top 20 if you know where you want your career to go. If you're looking at a specialty, some unique occupation that's very specific, the top ten ranking is better.
However, most undergrads change their majors as much as they change their underwear, so your school should carry a variety of options, because hey. We all have the right to change our minds. And while you're at it, make sure they have some sort of student development or career center to make the transition from student to the real world a little smoother.
2. COST: MAKE EVERY RED PENNY COUNT
Getting an education is expensive! There's all these figures involved that you may have never heard about, but here are the top three you should look for.
Tuition: How much your classes are going to cost. This could very by course and major. Every class has a credit hour value assigned to it, and each credit is worth a certain amount. EX: School A costs $250 per credit, making a 3 credit English class cost $750. Not only that, but in-state tuition is typically less than out-of-state tuition. So yeah, price matters. Most students start with a 12 credit first semester. This qualifies you as a full time student, and doesn't put too much on your plate before you're ready.
Scholarships Opportunities: If you worked diligently through high school, your GPA may earn you a scholarship, which is a fancy word for free money! Get as many as you can and look for outside sources.
Room & Board: This will only matter if you're living on campus. This is your bread and butter, literally. Trust me when I say, it really matters whether a school offers one meal or two in the cafeteria on Sundays! There's nothing worse than being a broke college student, and the cafe is closed until 7 the next morning. It's also your housing. Living with other people can be great or a nightmare, but if you live off campus, know that you won't be able to depend on a guaranteed 3 square meals a day. Something to think about.
3. LOCATION: WHERE YOU AT?
Some people can't wait to get as far away from home as humanly possible, but there are a lot of advantages to living close to home. Tuition is typically lower (typically), you're close enough to make it home for Christmas and celebrate all those little life events that mean the world, and laundry is free!
If you are looking to move far away, keep in mind the weather. The city life surrounding the school is almost as important as the school itself. Do you want to be in the middle of a dessert or smack dab in the big city? Can you handle the fierce winters when you're walking through the snow to make it to a 9 o'clock class or would you rather face the heat on your way to chemistry? See what I mean?
4. STUDENT LIFE: THE BEST PART ABOUT COLLEGE
Take it from someone whose been in the extremes of both situations. The first school I attending was amazing. Great programs, even better people, and faculty that really cared about my success. But the city was dry and boring, and there wasn't a lot to look forward to on campus outside of band, sports, greek life (which I wasn't able to infiltrate at the time.) The school I finished at was awesome. Great programs, great people, and friendships I still carry with me. The city revolved around the university so I got a lot off perks including student discounts, and it really gave me a sense of pride being apart of it all.
You'll want to see what student organizations are available, because let's be real. You'll spend a small fraction in your classes, and after all that studying, you'll need something fun to do. My school had hundreds (no exaggeration) of groups to try out and join and even more events to attend. Maybe you're into theatre. Lots of schools host traveling professional groups like broadway musicals and dance troupes. Maybe you're into politics. My school brought huge figures to our campus to talk about matters that, well, mattered to us.
Yes, you go to school to learn, but it's the fun that keeps you sane!
There are loads more reasons that will help you find the perfect fit in a college, but if you don't remember anything I've written, at least do yourself this one thing: VISIT ALL THE COLLEGES YOU'RE SERIOUSLY CONSIDERING. Brochures make everything look and sound wonderful, but you'll know what's real when you set foot on campus and meet potential counselors and classmates.
Seize the day, and pick the school that's right for you. At the end of the day, its YOU who has to live with that decision.
*Labor Department statistics by the Economic Policy Institute in Washington
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