Choosing the Right School

So far I’ve focused only on why and how to apply to college, but what is just as important is which colleges to apply to and, soon after, which college to choose. When comparing schools, you’ll want to consider many factors such as the cost of attendance (after financial aid), location, size, subject strengths, reputation, and much more. As I mentioned at the beginning of this map, you don’t want to select your college based on name or prestige alone. Since you’ll likely be spending the next 4-5 years of your life at the school you choose, you want to make sure it’s the right fit for you. Here are some questions to start you off as you research and consider schools:

• How big is it (total student body, average classroom size, student faculty ratio)?

• Where is it located? How far from home? In a city, the suburbs, or a rural area?

• What kind of activities can you do on and off campus?

• What impression do the students there give off?

• What matters most to you about college, and does this school have it?

• Does it offer programs that fit your potential academic/career interests?

• How much of the cost of attendance will be covered by financial aid?

• How long does it take students to graduate on average?

image from Holland Forsythe

One great way to find out if a school is right for you is to go visit the campus! Almost all colleges provide guided campus tours that will showcase everything the school has to offer and allow you to experience the school for yourself. Frequently schools will also have a “visit day” for admitted students, which involve tours and all-day events to provide you all the information you may need to make your decision. You can visit schools before being admitted too, if you need help deciding if you should even apply to a certain school. Seeing campuses in person gives you an idea of what it would be like to attend a school, more than just what websites and anecdotal stories can show you. However, traveling to schools can be expensive, especially if you applied to places across the country (or internationally). If you’re unable to see a school in person, there are still many great ways to learn more about what it’s like to be a student there. Other ways to research a school include:

• School websites: Every school has its own website, with a variety of pages focusing on majors and departments and all the offerings a school has available. Websites usually include virtual tours, interviews with students and faculty, and plenty of ways to learn more. Keep in mind, though, that schools will be putting their best face forward here and likely showing the “ideal” experience of attending.

• Talk to students & alumni: Don’t hesitate to reach out to current students or alumni of a school you’re interested in! Emails/social media profiles are usually easily found and many people will be excited to share their own college experience. Chatting with students, past and present, will give you the most complete and realistic idea of what it’s like to go to that school.

• Utilize your family, friends, peers: Your friends, family, teachers, school counselors, and others in your social circle are great connections to lean on too. Sharing information with friends can help you discover things you missed when researching a school as well as gaining different perspectives on the pros/cons. Discussing what you look for in a college with these people can also help you cement what matters to you personally when deciding.

• Online resources: And then, of course, is the Internet, which has more information about every school out there than you could possibly remember. Forums where students discuss schools, articles and news full of relevant facts, and YouTube videos uploaded by students themselves are all readily available. Just remember to take anything you read online with a grain of salt, especially on the online forums, since you can’t always be sure what’s true or exaggerated. Using the Internet to find answers to specific questions you have about a school is probably its best use.

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