As high school graduation draws nearer, more and more students are having to make important life decisions about their education and future.
There are many aspects of the college process that create endless moments of stress for an incoming student.
- What classes should I take?
- What major should I choose?
- Which college should I attend?
All of these questions can plague a young student’s mind endlessly. Choosing a college that is a good fit for your lifestyle and academic goals can be daunting.
There are several things you can look at to help you narrow your choices and choose the college that will be the perfect fit for you.
Use these three tips to choose the right college after you’ve already been accepted to several of your choices.
Location
Though this may seem like a strange way to judge a school, where you live plays an important role in your satisfaction with your college experience.
Take into consideration how far the schools you are interested in are from your friends and family. This distance will play a large role in how often you can visit home, how your vacations and holidays will go, and much you enjoy your time actually spent in that town.
Find a location and city that suits your needs and interests. Pay attention to climate and terrain. If you absolutely hate cold weather, you probably shouldn’t go to school in Chicago, for example.
Consider things like whether you will have a car in college. If you will not, you may want to consider towns that have strong public transit systems. Obviously, you shouldn’t base your entire decision on location, but where you live is important.
Location should be a key factor in your final choice.
Size
Another important thing to consider when you are choosing between schools is size. The size of the student body population can give you a fairly clear idea of how large your classes will be.
There is often a draw to smaller class sizes for a more intimate and personal academic experience. However, if small class sizes are not a huge draw for you, you should explore larger universities with a wider student population. Many students who went to small high schools are drawn to the idea of attending a huge university with thousands of other students.
Oppositely, students that attended large high schools may want to explore their options at small schools where there is a stronger community dynamic.
Research what the typical classes sizes are at the universities you are particularly interested in. This can help you narrow your choices.
Extracurriculars
What types of activities and programs are you interested in outside of your normal classes?
Research what types of extracurricular programs the colleges you are interested in offer. This can include school sports, academic clubs, Greek organizations, and intramural activities.
If you are interested in participating in sports during your colligate career, you will want to evaluate the programs that the schools you are interested in offer. Decide if you want to participate in Division one, two, or three sports. Or look into the different intramural sports the schools have.
While college is no doubt very much about academics, it is also about finding interesting hobbies and activities to do to fill your time and expand your experiences.
Do research to be sure that you find the university that will provide you with the most interesting and enriching extracurricular opportunities.