How To Choose a College and What To Consider

As the summer nears, college decisions have either been released or are continuing to be released. It’s normal to be overwhelmed with multiple decisions coming at you all at once. Check each of the commitment deadlines for the acceptances and put the waitlists and deferrals aside. That’s for another day. If you’re not sure on which to choose, take a deep breath.

Don’t be hasty making your decision. Always evaluate whether university is for you, if it’s not, there are other options. There are many alternatives such as trade school, apprenticeships, and heading straight into the workforce. Don’t get caught in the nitty-gritty of it all.

But, if you’re settled on university life, here’s how to choose a college.

How’s the Program?

Before continuing, it’s important to note that you don’t need to know what you want to do for the rest of your life. Your major also does not decide what your career is after graduating. It’s important to major in something you’re interested in, but it’s also okay to go in as undecided or change majors later.

If you’ve decided on a program before going in, though, it’s equally important that the university has a high quality program. Whether it’s a STEM major like Neuroscience, or a major in the arts, your university should have facilities in good condition and enough resources for you to excel.

To check out your college choices and their program strength, scour their websites for virtual tours and photos of your program’s academic buildings. Keep an eye out for any current news about investments in your college choices. Additionally, talk to any current students or alumni around you or find their stories online. Lastly, research partnerships your university may have with companies in your chosen field.

This allows you to gauge which university’s type of program would be right for you.

Where’s the Campus and Where Are You?

Moving out of the state you grew up in is a big deal, no matter the reason why. It makes you consider a whole new aspect than just program strength when choosing a college. In moving out of the state, you are moving away from your home and living alone in a new place. Many out-of-state students are nervous when they first move, but many find a new home and make new connections.

Do some introspection and truly consider if you want to be away from family. This is one of the most important checks because it impacts the entirety of your college career. If you’d like to try something new, look towards your out-of-state options. However, if you’d like to stay close, focus on the in-state schools.

If out-of-state is your focus it boils down to location, location, location. What’s the weather like? How are the locals? If accessible, consider visiting the campus on a weekend. If your choices are in the same city, it’s especially easy to make one trip and tour multiple campuses. On these trips, try to tour or walk around campus. Be sure to pay extra attention to the buildings and the students milling around. This helps you imagine yourself at the school before committing and see if you like it or not. Also be sure to take extra time looking at dorms on campus to best evaluate the quality of living.

Another aspect to consider with out-of-state vs. in-state is cost.

Going out-of-state for college is priced higher than going to a school in-state. This can be because of a combination of in-state exclusive scholarships, overall discounts for in-state students, or exclusive financial aid offers. It also allows you to skip the housing cost and commute to school while living at home. Overall, staying in-state is a more cost-effective choice.

Money, Money, Money

Tuition, room and board, textbooks, meal plans, they all add up. For those looking to cut their full tuition down, the most important aspect to consider is how much money you have to spend. University can be an extremely expensive investment. When it comes to choosing a college, research their scholarships and reputable third-party scholarships. Figure out which ones you qualify for and be sure to submit yourself for consideration before the deadline. Consider asking a guidance counselor for some help researching scholarships.

Sometimes universities will award full-ride scholarships, others are not as generous. Compare the financial aid given by your different choices and pick the one right for your financial needs.

It’s also important to complete your FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) ahead of time to compare how much you may be given in needs-based scholarships. The FAFSA can be confusing so take advantage of the walkthrough guide given on the website. By completing this, you become eligible for needs-based scholarships and are automatically considered for them at universities with those scholarships.

Campus Culture

All colleges have a different feel to them — it’s everywhere from the architecture to the reason for the university’s founding.

During one of the aforementioned visits, spend some time in the neighborhood and look for how the students act off campus. Talk to some of the students on campus or the faculty after your tour. You could even sit in the quad, weather permitting, and people watch. If you can see yourself enjoying your time in this space, make note of that.

If you are unable to visit, do virtual tours of the campus and watch videos of current students online. Tours are typically found on university websites or on official YouTube channels. Current students will often post short-form content on Instagram or TikTok, and longer form content on YouTube. Watch things and do the same thing — consider yourself in that space.

Also, look into on-campus activities like intramural sports, clubs, fraternity and sorority life, and school sponsored events. If any of them catch your eye, keep that in mind for your final decision. This can be achieved by going to your prospective colleges’ websites and searching their sections about student life.