Selecting a College

What Do I Look for in Colleges?

 

Colleges are a mixture of students, faculty, administration, facilities, and on and off-campus activities. As you are researching the “personality” of a college to see if it will be right for you, make sure to visit while classes are in session. Summer visits are good, but the best way to really view a campus is when the bulk of the students are there.

Look for campuses to hold “open houses” or “discovery days” throughout the year. Just remember, colleges are trying to sell themselves to you as much as you are trying to sell yourself to them, so look for the college where you will fit best, not the one who gave you the best t-shirt.

The following is a list of factors that might influence the personality of a campus…it is not a complete list:

·         Size of the student body (undergraduate/graduate, full/part time)

·         Residential percentage (how many students live on/off campus)

·         Geographical mix of students & foreign study opportunities

·         Student scheduling & average length of time until graduation

·         Minimum & maximum class sizes, who teaches (TA? Professor?)

·         Student activities/clubs & leadership opportunities

·         Percentage of students returning for Sophomore year & grad rate

·         Greek life

·         Campus setting (urban, suburban, rural, isolated, etc.)

·         Academic offerings

·         Athletic programs

·         Admission requirements & cost

·         Your major or field of study

·         Geographic location

 

The top factors most students consider when looking for “their college” are:

1.   Small vs. Large – colleges can have a few hundred to tens of thousands of students.

2.   Geographical location – how far away do you want to be? Will you be able to afford to get to and from college?

3.   City vs. College Town – how much activity do you want around campus?

4.   Field of Study or Major – Undecided majors are one of the more popular, and although this is OK, it is a good idea to research and evaluate your interests. When does your college of choice expect you to declare a major if you enroll as Undecided?

5.   Cost – there is more on this in the financial aid section. It’s an important factor to consider once your award letters have all come in.