College is every high school student’s dream. But how does one know which college to choose when there are millions of options out there? Choosing the right college is very important and one should take a lot of time and effort in making this decision so that once the decision is made, it should not be something one would regret later on. The perfect college can open up new chambers in the mind and will be a thrilling experience almost like being born again. There are many alumni who remain thankful all their life for all the knowledge and experience their college provided them. They are willing to keep such opportunities alive for the following generation by donating billions of dollars every year to provide scholarships and other expenditure that the college cannot bear solely. College has its flip side as well. For example, an unpleasant college can be like a burden for life and many students cannot bear it for four years and thus drop out of college. Dropping out is not the worst of it. The worst nightmare is students suffering from psychiatric problems that sometimes even end in suicide. Thus choosing a college should not be taken lightly. To an extent, it is going to define who you are. Read on to know a few tips on choosing the right college.
Choosing A College
- First thing you should find out is the employability standard of students graduating from a college on your radar, especially in jobs related to their majors. Also, don’t blindly believe what college authorities tell you. Ask for more information regarding employment details. A little research and an open mind can really increase the chances of you choosing the right college.
- Look out for colleges that offer internships in some of the fields you are interested in. Internships are gateways for valuable experiences and help you grab important networking opportunities. Also, many companies are interested in hiring interns whose performance is good. Find out about the college’s faculty members since staff with a good reputation in their field can be very helpful in providing a path into the corporate world through internships and jobs.
- Important employers are interested in school ranks and the national reputation of academic excellence. This kind of information is easily available in magazines and on the internet. Also, a college with a strong recognized name is something many employers look for but it is not necessary that all well recognized colleges are right for you. Investigate as if your life depends on it. People tend to generalize colleges by putting them in categories such as “good”, “a party school”, “hard to get into”, “too expensive”, etc. So don’t accept these kinds of generalizations without proof. Also, don’t select a college because all your friends are going there. Don’t make your choice because everyone else thinks “it’s cool”. Think for yourself.
- After narrowing down to a few colleges, visit each of them. Visiting the campus can change your perspective about it. Either take the official tour or explore it on your own. Exploring on your own is a better option because spending some time alone in the college premises and observing students there will give you a clear idea about whether you can “fit in” or not. Try taking your parents or someone else along with you. It’s always good to have an extra opinion on everything. Also talk to as many students as you can.
- When it’s time to make the final decision, discuss all the options with your family and people who know you in and out and whose judgment matters. Once you have made your choice, don’t torture yourself by worrying about it all the time.
- Just to be really careful, when you visit the college, ask the college authorities the following questions:
(i) What type of financial support is available?
(ii) What are all the degree programs that are offered?
(iii) Does the school have regional accreditation?
(iv) What are the costs of tuition and housing?
(v) Do the departments offering your potential majors have additional accreditation?
(vi) On an average, how many students are there in one class?
(vii) What types of extracurricular activities are provided?
(viii) Are dorms available in the college?
(ix) What is the size of the student population?
If you have followed these rules, then there are 95% chances that you will end up with the best decision about the college you want to attend.
