Selecting a College
Prioritize the following qualities:
- Major
- Location (close or far from home; rural, suburban, or urban
community; near mountains, ocean…..)
- Size of school / classes
- Athletics
- Activities
- Affiliation (private or public; religious)
- Quality of facilities (labs, housing, media, library,
theater…)
- Cost (but remember, you may qualify for financial aid)
A great place to start your research is http://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/.
It has all kinds of search tools and is unbiased, with links to university
websites.
Apply to the top 4-10 colleges that meet your expectations,
with cost and acceptance rates as minor factors. You might be surprised at what financial aid
packages they will put together if they think you’re a good fit. Once you get
acceptance letters, see who will offer you the most favorable all-around
package. Before you send a deposit, though, make sure you visit the campus. Try
to make a personal appearance at your favorite four schools, at least. Set up
interviews with admissions officers and with current students. Spend some time
off-campus, too, to make sure the overall community is a good fit for you.
|
