By now you’ve probably gotten some college catalogs in the mail or online and have started pondering what you’d like to study in college. But if you’re like a lot of students, you still need to start narrowing down your list of schools. Here are a few guidelines to make The Big Decision a little easier.
FACTORS TO CONSIDER
One of the surest ways to start narrowing down your college choices is to consider your own criteria—what you personally are looking for in a college—along with some larger more general factors such as those below.
• Strength in Intended Major
Maybe you want to study zoology but the nearest university doesn’t offer it. Or you’ve decided that you want to go for the best engineering or sociology program you can find in a sunny climate. When deciding on a certain school the strength of your intended major is a significant factor for most students. If you eventually want to get into a graduate or professional school you’ll want to make sure your program of study at a particular college is accredited and that it is the right kind of accreditation if you want to continue with your education. “To earn accreditation programs must perform to certain levels as set by regional and national accrediting boards so students are guaranteed a certain level of quality,” explains Catherine Capolupo vice president for enrollment management of Roger Williams University (RI).
You should also find out the details of the program at your prospective colleges. “While websites or brochures will make it appear as though all biology departments as an example are created equal as you really research you’ll find nuances between programs,” says Rick Clark director of undergraduate admission at Georgia Tech. For example he recommends finding out “what specific research or focus the faculty are passionate about—and if that matches your affinities.”
• Cost and Financial Aid Availability
Many students and parents are turning to financial aid availability as a big predictor of college choice. “Consider your finances,” says Capolupo. “Yes it’s fine to have student loans but you shouldn’t be so overburdened by debt that you can’t make ends meet upon graduation. Apply for institutional aid and scholarships as well as private scholarships to help you.” You might be fortunate enough to land some big scholarships that will cover all or part of your tuition. If not you may want to look toward a state school that will be more affordable and still give you a good educational experience. On the other hand sometimes more expensive schools will offer more financial aid so don’t rule out a dream school based on the sticker price; the net cost of attendance is what you should focus on.
• Class Size and Professor Availability
You might appreciate professors whose main goal is to be available to students on a more individual basis. Check out the student-to-faculty ratio to see how close you might be able to get to your professors. It may be hard to avoid some large freshman classes but keep in mind that the size of your classes will be smaller after your freshman year. When looking at your intended major department Georgia Tech’s Clark says “I would find out how many faculty they have [and] what the student [to] teacher ratio is in the department. … When you visit campus or contact current students ask them when they started taking [classes in their] major … and if access to those is easy or challenging.”
• The College Visit
One of the best ways to narrow down your top choices for college is to visit the campuses and get a feel for the school. You can take a guided tour or you can just do it on your own and even sit in on a class or two. “Visiting campus is absolutely imperative within the admission process,” says Clark. (See “The Ultimate Guide to Campus Visits” on page 36 for more information.)
• Student Life
Many people say college is the time when they change the most so it’s a good idea to check out the ways that the college creates a good student life. Will you be living in a dorm or off campus? What kinds of student organizations and activities are offered? Is there Greek life? What does the surrounding town look like—are there places to hang out and meet people off campus? Consider whether you want a smaller college town or more of an urban setting. You should also consider if you want a school with a large athletics/sports program with big football/homecoming weekends. Again much of this can be gleaned from a student visit. Tim Patterson director of admission at Sterling College (VT) says that finding out if the student culture is a good fit is “particularly [important] at specialized colleges like Sterling which is located in a rural environment and has a curriculum focused on environmental studies. Sterling is the perfect college for many students but it’s not for everyone.”
• The “Fit” Feeling
One of the most important factors for you to consider is whether you feel that the school is a good fit for you—for your personality as well as your interests. “If you open the car door walk on campus look around and simply know it’s not the right place for you then get out of there,” says Clark of Georgia Tech. “Trust your gut.”
No one else can tell you what school is a good fit for you—not your best friend not a teacher not a parent. Only you can determine that. “The college you choose will be your home for the next four years—you need to make sure that it’s a place where you feel comfortable being yourself,” says Capolupo of Roger Williams University. “Fit is different for everyone but you should think about the school where you will grow the most as a person where you will find unmatched opportunities including access to faculty members and where you will make connections and friends to last a lifetime. There are thousands of schools across the country and thousands of opportunities to find your fit.”
WAYS TO APPLY
Confused by terms like early action early decision nonrestrictive early action rolling admissions regular decision and single-choice early action? Here’s a quick guide.
Early decision is reserved for your non-negotiable dream school. By applying early decision you are promising the school that you will definitely attend if you’re accepted even if it means you are paying full sticker price. If you’re accepted early decision you’ll have to withdraw every other college application. Remember an early decision agreement is binding—that means it is an unbreakable contract. Be sure you are ready to commit to the terms of the early decision if you apply.
Early action is a good way of applying early since it’s not a binding agreement like early decision. Nonrestrictive early action means you can apply early to a variety of schools. Single-choice early action means that a school asks that you apply early action to their school only.
Regular decision lets you apply by standard deadlines (typically January through March). There are no restrictions on what other colleges you may apply to. Schools with rolling admissions make decisions on applicants as they apply throughout the year generally in the order received.
THE FINAL DECISION
You might apply to schools during the fall and winter of your senior year and receive a few acceptance letters. Well congratulations—that’s a good problem to have! But how do you make your final decision? “I advise students and their families to go back to [visit the] schools they are attempting to choose between,” says Clark. “Even if you’ve been there before it’s different once enrolling is a real option and your lens for the place will be more acute. I also recommend talking to as many current students and alumni as you can to get a well-rounded picture of the type of student who enjoys that school’s culture and experience.”
“Choosing a college is a very personal decision,” says Patterson. “Try not to be swayed by rankings or the well-intentioned advice of family and friends. Choose a college that feels right to you and that has an academic program that you find genuinely interesting.” With instincts and preparation—and some help along the way—you’ll likely be able to enter a challenging and stimulating school you can call your own.
Anne Flounders is an education writer and editor in Connecticut.
