Choosing Your “Perfect Fit” College & Mistakes To Avoid In Choosing A College
Choosing your college can be complicated. Many
students can find themselves paralyzed by the thought of picking the school that is right
for them.
There are so many factors to consider when choosing a college. A well-balanced list should
be comprised of schools that are a good fit for you in every aspect of what they can offer:
socially, academically, and financially. But what does it mean, exactly, when we talk about
finding colleges that are the right “fit”?
As someone who has worked with hundreds of these students, I am here to help you in choosing the college that will be right for YOU.
College fit comes down to your academic, social, and financial needs, as well as your career goals
Academics :
Does the college you're considering offer classes and learning opportunities that interest you? You don't need to declare a college major until your junior year of college—but you're more likely to succeed if you're excited about and engaged by the options available to you. Consider your learning style: do you prefer informative lectures or lively discussions? Research and analysis or hands-on experience and practice? Writing papers or working in small groups? Look for the academic experience you'll need to feel challenged and engaged, and what support you'll need for success.
Campus Culture :
Do you want a big school or a small one? A hip urban campus or a verdant quad in the country? A college where everyone cheers on the basketball team, or one where every theatre production gets a standing ovation? Every college has its own special vibe.
You can start narrowing down your list by making some decisions about the size of the student body and geographical location, and then move on to aspects you can identify by visiting campus, talking to current students and trusting your gut instincts: the personalities, politics, and interests of the student body.
Financial Aid :
The cost of college is one of
the biggest concerns for student & parents. It's important to be realistic about your
family's finances and avoid taking on unreasonable debts in the name of your
education—but it's also important not to cross a school off your list because of a scary
sticker price.
Many colleges and universities offer incredible financial aid packages (sometimes as a
combination of grants and scholarships, which means no debt at all!). Raising your
grades and your SAT or ACT scores will help you become more eligible for merit-based
financial aid.
Career Development
In addition to making sure the schools you’re considering offer the majors and classes that interest you, visit or contact the career development centre at each. Find out how the school supports students in preparing for the professional world. Do they offer resume writing workshops? Practice interviews? Networking events with alumni ?
Mistakes to Avoid in Choosing a college
There are many slip-ups that a student may commit when selecting from various colleges. Some of them can make being a college student more expensive than it needs to be.
Rushing the process
Finding the right college takes time and effort, not to mention research and an oftenlengthy application process. Waiting until the last minute or just “falling into a college” is never a good idea
Being a follower.
Following siblings or best friend to the college of their choice may seem like a promising idea at the time, but this is one of the most pivotal points in your life, too. You need to remember to make the best decisions for yourself.
The legacy lure :
Only considering colleges your parents, siblings, or other family members went to in order to follow them may not be in your best interest. It’s always best to explore your options and find the right fit for your personality.
Rebellion :
In contrast, only considering colleges your parents DON’T want you to attend isn't beneficial either. Sometimes, they have some good insight that may help you decide on what may be best for you. Don’t choose—or not choose—a college out of spite.
The temptation to party :
So, it’s a great party school but is it a great learning environment? While you may be itching to get out on your own and party like a rock star, that’s really not what college is about. Just be sure that it’s a setting that’s conducive to the real goal at hand: learning.
Location :
Whether you’re a homebody who wants to stay close or an escape artist who wants to get as far from home as possible, the location should be a factor in choosing a college. However, living at home or not should not be the sole decision maker.
Cost obsessions or carelessness :
Forgetting to consider the cost of college or only considering the cost as a factor are two major issues to avoid. While cost is a huge hurdle, there are many other factors to consider as well, and students should not be blinded by this one aspect.
Relying on reputation :
Just because it’s a “highly-ranked”, "big school", “prestigious” or a “designer” school doesn't mean it’s the right school for you. Don’t always assume that the difficulty of getting into the school equates to the quality of education you’ll receive.
Having a one-track mind :
Maybe you've wanted to go there since you were little and you've already decided there is only one right school for you. But not investigating all your options, like graduation rates and class sizes is a huge mistake. You can still attend your number one, we’re just asking you to check out the others, too.