To think of college as just a place to earn a degree is shortsighted. You'll spend years of your life living and learning in a new environment, and you must be sure your choice is a good fit for you. To find colleges meeting your needs and wants, identify your priorities before carefully researching the characteristics
of a range of schools. The traits below are important to consider when selecting where to spend the next four (or more) years of your life.
Size of the Student Body
Size will affect many of your
opportunities and experiences,
including:
- range of academic majors offered
- extracurricular possibilities
- amount of personal attention you'll
receive
- number of books in the library
When considering size, be certain to look beyond the raw number
of students attending, as this may not tell the whole story. Perhaps you're considering a small
department within a large school.
Investigate not just the number
of faculty, but also how accessible
faculty members are to students.
Location
Do you want to visit home frequently,
or do you see this as a time to
experience a new part of the country?
Perhaps you like an urban environment
with access to museums, ethnic
food or major league ball games.
Or maybe you hope for easy access
to the outdoors or the serenity
of a small town.
Academic Programs
If you know what you want to study,
research reputations of academic
departments by talking to people
in the fields that interest you.
If you're undecided, relax and
pick an academically balanced
institution that offers a range
of majors and programs. Most colleges
offer counseling to help you find
a focus.
In considering academic programs,
look for special opportunities
such as honors programs,
accelerated or distance learning programs or study abroad
opportunities, and pick a school that offers
many possibilities.
Campus Life
Consider what your college life
will be like beyond the classroom.
Aim for a balance between academics,
activities and social life. Before
choosing a college, learn the
answers to these questions:
- What extracurricular activities,
athletics, and special interest
groups are available?
-
Does the community around the
college offer interesting outlets
for students?
-
Are students welcomed by the community?
-
Is there an ethnic or religious
group in which to take part?
-
How do fraternities and sororities
influence campus life?
-
Is housing guaranteed?
- How are dorms assigned?
Cost
Today's college price tag makes
cost an important consideration
for most students. At the same
time, virtually all colleges work
to ensure that academically qualified
students from every economic circumstance
can find financial aid that allows
them to attend. In considering
cost, look beyond the price tag.
Diversity
Explore what you might gain from
a diverse student body. Think
about the geographic, ethnic,
racial and religious diversity
of the students as a means of
learning more about the world.
Investigate what kinds of student
organizations or other groups
with ethnic or religious foundations
are active and visible on campus.
Retention
and Graduation Rates
One of the best ways to measure
a school's quality and the satisfaction
of its students is to learn the
percent of students who return
after the first year and the percent
of entering students who remain
to graduate. Comparatively good
retention and graduation rates
are indicators that responsible
academic, social and financial
support systems exist for most
students.
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