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http://college-careers.blogspot.com/2008/07/choosing-college-right-for-you.html
When choosing a college there are many factors to consider. Not only is it important to consider financial aspects, it is equally important to explore the full array of opportunities and options that surround a college before settling on the final choice(s). I recommend a few things to consider:
Does the college have programs in my areas of interest?
Does the college have a progressive financial aid program to help students
with the cost of their education?
Is the college in an area where I feel comfortable (urban, suburban, etc.)?
Is the college the right size for me?
Most important is the feeling one gets as they visit the campus. Take the time to visit the campus; to ask questions, visit the residence halls, and meet a professor. The important thing is that you visit. Too many students choose a college, only to find in their first year that the campus is not right for them. Visiting becomes even more important when considering out-of-state colleges.
Once these factors are considered, choices have to be made; where to apply and when. Fall of the senior year is a good time. Where to apply is a personal choice, whether in- or out-of-state, there are many good colleges and universities to select from – more than 3,500 in the United States alone. The formula that usually works well is to choose more than one. Three works well because you can select one college where you k now you will be accepted, one where you think you will be accepted, and one that you question whether you will be accepted.
Your high school guidance counselors are there to help you through these decisions. Usually, guidance offices have a variety of information and resources from many colleges and universities that you can choose from, some of which can be checked out by students. Also, with Internet access and the continual advancement of technology today, you can visit any college at the stroke of a key.
If you have any questions about this or other topics, feel free to contact me at dadofdivas@gmail.com and I will do my best to answer the questions you have.
July 20, 2008 |
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Half-Past Kissin' Time July 21, 2008 6:20 pm
We’re only a year away from doing this. In a way, I hope he just picks the local U.W. and lives at home. It would be much cheaper that way!!
Tara R. July 21, 2008 11:25 pm
Excellent info… all aspects the upcoming college kid should consider. My daughter will be a sophomore this fall. She had a couple other criteria for choosing where she wanted to apply. She was so ready to go to college, but she wanted to find one that was bigger than her high school. We live in Florida, I couldn’t even get her to look at some smaller Liberal Arts schools like Rollins or Flagler. No, she ended up at the biggest one in the state - UF. She applied to two in-state and two out-state universities. Fortunately she was accepted at all of them, so it then became which one offered the best academics, and best scholarship.
I would also suggest that kids apply for every scholarship they can find. Prepare 3-4 essays for the application process and hit them all. Some may only be $500-1,000, but today, every little bit helps.
Dad of Divas July 22, 2008 5:17 am
Barb, This is the time to get out there and start visiting schools if you haven’t already. Especially in the UW System, Sept. 15 is the first date you can apply, so definitely apply early.
Tara, I agree whole-heartedly with you on the scholarship piece and definitely will be writing something about this in the near future to share on the Hill as well. The big schools at times are a draw due to what they can offer that a small liberal arts campus cannot, The array of programs and resources that they have versus a private liberal arts college can sometimes be staggering. You simply have to know how to make yourself not be just a number though at the larger institutions. As long as it felt like a great fit, it sounds like she made a good choice!