Choosing the right college can be a tough decision and a lot goes into making that decision. Every student has different priorities, such as finding a school with best academics, high rated professors, reputable sports teams, safety, diversity and/or its culture.
Here are a few things you can do to help you make the right choice for yourself:
1. Decide on the Major You Want to Pursue
Knowing what you want to study in college is the fastest way to narrow down your college search. You will find that if your major is not common, then not all schools will offer courses in your field. However, for those pursuing popular majors, then it would be important to check how the schools rank in that category.
Investigate what degree levels are offered by prospective schools and match them with your own educational aspirations. Some schools may only have a good reputation with their undergraduate programs, while other schools stand out with their graduate or professional programs.
Another thing to consider is what classes and courses are offered for your major. You will want to pay careful attention to things such as weekend or night classes availability, and also the ability to transfer credits to another institution, in case you have plans to move.
2. Affordability
Once you have an idea of your major, you will want to have a good understanding of the median salary/earning potential of that major and compare it to the cost of the degree or amount of debt you may need to take out from certain schools. Although we’re rooting for best case scenarios, you always want to consider worst case scenarios when it comes to affordability of student loans. Make sure that you only borrow what you need and consider what you will be able to afford upon graduation at the lower-level salaries of your major. You want to think of the long-term benefits of your career, but it’s important to factor in things that we may not foresee, such as growing a family, other large purchases such as a home, cars, retirement, etc.
Things to keep in mind when deciding how affordable a school is compared to another school, is the amount of financial aid you will receive. Financial aid can make a school that has higher tuition rates considerably less expensive than one with lower tuition rates. Research financial aid, since scholarships, grants, work-study, and fellowships can lower the cost of a college degree. For example, if you’re a Nevada resident that graduated from a Nevada high school and met the qualifications for the Governor Guinn Millennium Scholarship, then that is an additional $10,000 you can use towards your education at an eligible school, however, if you chose a school out of state, those $10,000 are no longer available to you since the scholarship is specific to Nevada state residents.
It is also important to note that the tuition at an out-of-state school may be higher than that of an in-state school. One of the benefits of staying in state is the lower price of tuition. On average, out-of-state tuition can be more than double the cost of in-state tuition.
3. Determine Your Top Priorities that You Want in Your School of Choice
Start by making a list of things that are important to you. Maybe you want to live away from home, but you still want to be close enough to visit family or you want to attend a school in different part of your state so that you still qualify for benefits provided to residents of that state.
What is important to you may not be important to others. If you’re able to, expand your list to include things that you are not willing to settle for. Remember, this is a school that you will be spending 2 – 4+ years at, so you want to make sure that you are keeping a list of your priorities, but also what could be some dealbreakers.
4. Consider the State/Location of the School
The location of the school can affect the cost substantially. Typically, students can save thousands of dollars by choosing a public, in-state school. Going to an out-of-state school can affect the ability to receive state financial aid, including grants or scholarships specifically given to support the education of state residents. If you’re considering a school that is out of state, you should also compare the price of a school that is in-state to one that is out-of-state to learn how much you could potentially save.
Other things that may drive students from certain schools is the seasons/weather, the safety of the school, and the campus culture or even the culture of the location. There are things that often get overseen that can potentially be a culture shock for students. While some students may prefer an urban college in a major city, others may want a small-town college experience.
The cost of living is also another item to factor into your decision. Consider expenses such as the price of rent and utilities, transportation, cost of food, cost of extracurricular activities, and the cost of entertainment. You want to ensure the school fits your budget after accounting for fees and living expenses.
5. Do Your Due Diligence and Research Important Details
Education statistics such as data on admissions, retention, and graduation rates. This data reveals how selective the school is and support services available to students.
Accreditation status is the most important factor to consider when choosing your college. Accredited schools will offer credits that transfer to programs at other schools and meet requirements for most professional licenses and degrees. They also qualify for federal financial aid programs.
While unaccredited schools often will not qualify you for the career you want and will usually offer credits that are non-transferable. When a school is accredited, it indicates that the school voluntarily underwent a review process by a third-party accrediting agency to ensure educational standards. The review process evaluates things like the quality of the faculty, student learning and professional outcomes, and whether the school is using data-based research to improve its curriculum and student services.
Prestige may be an important factor during the college search because earning a degree from a prestigious school can help alumni in the job market or when applying for graduate programs. However, also keep in mind that a higher price tag may come when selecting a prestigious school.
The average student loan debt students graduate with. A helpful indicator of which colleges meet a student’s financial need is the average student loan debt held by graduates at the end of their four-year degree. Institutions who have significantly lower averages of student loan debt amongst their graduates are typically more generous with need-based and merit-based aid packages.
The school’s job placement record. Positive job placement rates is a reflection that the school wants to see you succeed and achieve your career goals by showing their commitment to assisting you in finding a job in your field after graduation.
Reviews from students outside of the institution’s website. The institution has the control over what is added to their website, and therefore, they will only include positive feedback from students, as a marketing technique. It’s important that you read reviews outside of their website and read genuine reviews from alumni or students. Keep in mind that not everyone’s experience will be the same, but you may be able to notice any patterns in the reviews.
Past lawsuits the school may have been involved in. One thing that is sometimes overseen by applicants are past lawsuits the school may have been involved in. Your education is one of the most expensive investments you are making for yourself, and therefore, you want to make sure you are fully informed of malpractices your school has been involved in to ensure that you are not falling victim of those malpractices as well.
6. Attend College Fairs to Learn About the Different Options Available
Attending college fairs is a great way to be introduced to the different options available. College fairs can sometimes be intimidating, so before you attend college fairs, you should prepare questions and have an idea of which institutions you are most eager to learn more about.
7. Take Campus Tours of Your Top Choices to Get a Personable Idea of the Campus Culture, etc.
Every brochure will look beautiful, but you must keep in mind that schools will use professional and edited pictures for marketing purposes. Brochures also don’t always tell the whole story of the school. It’s important that you take tours of your top schools, especially if they are out of state, so that you can see for yourself what the culture is like, and the cleanliness of the school, the neighborhoods surrounding the school, etc.