RSC - Blog-108 http://www.collegeprepexpert.com Blog-108 Fri, 24 May 2013 00:37:25 +0000 http://www.collegeprepexpert.com/ en weekly 1 Blog Posting 5 Things to Keep in Mind as You Choose Colleges http://www.collegeprepexpert.com/blog/selecting-a-college/5-things-to-keep-in-mind-as-you-choose-colleges http://www.collegeprepexpert.com/blog/selecting-a-college/5-things-to-keep-in-mind-as-you-choose-colleges#comments 2012-02-20 06:00:00 This spring, upperclassmen all over the country will be paying serious attention to the colleges that interest them most. Sophomores and juniors should focus on ways to narrow theirr list of college choices, while Seniors have the biggest decision of all – how to pick the one college that is right for you.
 

Factors in Choosing a College

 


  1. Choose a college you can afford. This may seem obvious, but it’s often to difficult to know exactly which colleges you can afford because the sticker price at a college is often not the amount you’ll pay after you receive financial aid. Financial aid can put seemingly unaffordable colleges in your price range. Get accurate estimates on your actual costs at every school you’re interested in. It will go a long way in helping you choose the right college for you.

  2. Choose a college that is the right distance away. Some students can’t wait to go to school cross-country, but most do better when they’re only a few hours from home. In fact, did you know that students who transfer to schools closer to home are more likely to graduate than those who transfer farther away? Factor in what location works best for you, but don’t forget transportation costs and added living expenses.

  3. Choose a college that meets your needs. The first step here is to determine your needs: major, career interests, academic difficulty, etc, Once you determine what you need, it will be easier to find a college that can meet it.

  4. Choose a college with a good reputation. What do you hear and read about a college, their classes, their professors, dorms, facilities, and on-campus crime? Don’t listen to just one opinion; there are many resources are available.

  5. Choose a college that feels right to you. Your final step comes down less to research and more to instinct. Visit the campus. How does it feel to you? Do you like the look of it? Do you feel like you’d fit in socially, academically, politically, etc.? If so, move that college high on your list. Maybe that makes it the deciding factor if everything else is equal. Maybe that makes it your top choice.


 

Narrowing Your List of Colleges

 

Taking the above steps will automatically eliminate many colleges from your list, but hopefully not all. In fact, it could still leave you with a long list, preferably more than six. Once you’ve applied to them and acceptance letters start rolling in, how did you decide on “The One?”

 

Usually that decision comes down to two things: Money, and how you feel about the campus. If all things are equal, but one school will cost you less thanks to a better financial aid offer, make it your top choice. You’re more likely to graduate if you don’t go deep into debt paying for college.

 

If college costs are equal, or roughly so, it’s going to be a gut decision. Trust it. It’s telling you that you belong there, for whatever reason. Going to a college that’s offering you a great experience is another way to make sure you graduate.

 

Good luck picking out colleges this spring. It’s the most enjoyable part of college prep! 


 


 
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