Choosing a College
Choosing a college that is right for you is not something that should be taken lightly.How do you go about making such an important decision? Depending on your goals, here are some things you need to consider: If you know what you want to study, ask: What is thecollege’s program like in your field? What is it known for? Howmany students? How many instructors? What classes are offered? When(days, evenings or weekends?) and how(online, partially-online?)are the classes in my program offered? What will my schedule belike as a student? How long will it take me to complete my studies?Who is teaching in my area of study? What is their background(education and experience)? Can I meet with the instructors and/orthe department head to find out more about the program? What havegraduates of the program gone on to do? What kind of real-lifeopportunities might be available to me as a student in this program(hands-on activities, internships, volunteer work, opportunities tomeet potential employers)?If you don’t know what you want to study yet, but you knowfor sure you want to go to college, choosing a college might not yet be as critical and you might consider a college nearby. Still, you need to ask: What kinds ofprograms, classes and opportunities are available for students?What is this school known for? Who else attends this college? Doesit have a diverse student population? What kinds of activities areavailable? What’s the atmosphere like on campus? What kinds ofstudent services are offered? How easy is it to get your questionsabout the school answered? What resources are available to helpstudents succeed? Can I meet with an adviser to talk about programsof study?If you aren't sure if you can afford college, ask: Whatkind of financial aid is available? How do I apply? When are thedeadlines? What other services are available to help studentssucceed? How easy is it to find and access resources at thecollege? What’s the tuition? What might other costs be of attendingthe college? (housing, transportation, childcare, books,activities) Are there resources available to help with these costs?What work opportunities are available? On and around campus. Whenand how are classes offered? Can I work and attend classes? Whatscholarships are available? How do I apply? When are thedeadlines?If you are not sure college is right for you, ask: Can Isit in on a class? Can I talk to other students or find out aboutstudents’ experiences? What can graduates of this college go on anddo? What programs and classes are available? Are there short-termprograms available? What services are available to me as a studentto help me reach my goals? Are there activities, events, tours,information nights or open houses I can attend to get a better feelfor what it is like to attend this college?Choosing a college is important. Much too important to just pick one your friend suggest or your parents want you to go to. If you have a course of study in mind, make sure the college is a good choice for that. If you have no major figured out yet, choosing a college isn't as critical immediately as you most likely may be making a change once you decide what you want to major in. So it might be wise to choose according to cost and how close it is to home. With the economy the way it is now, you might want to seriously consider a community college. Many make this choice when they start to college and they transfer to a large college at a later time. One thing that makes this a excellent choice is students tend to change their course of study in their early college years. Once they are tapped into what they definitely plan to pursue, they can find the best college for that field. Return to Planning for College
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