Deciding where to go to college is a big decision. Here are 5 tips to help you make that choice.
If you have decided what you want to major in, check out various colleges to see how their program is ranked. You want a strong program, one that is highly acclaimed. Find a university that is well-known for that major.
Consider the location of the university. Many graduating high school seniors want to get as far away from home as possible. But, consider how this will impact your travel to and from school. Will it be really expensive to travel there? Will you be able to go home for Thanksgiving and Christmas or will it be too expensive to fly or drive home? Besides, if you get homesick (and you will), you can’t easily go home for the weekend.
What is the weather like in that area? Does it get lots of snow and has temperatures below zero? If you currently live in a warm climate this may be a difficult adjustment. And the opposite is true, too. Are you used to winters with snow? If you go to a university where the weather is warm, you might have a difficult time adjusting to the heat and humidity – and bugs!
Think of the cost. Out of state tuition is much higher than what you would pay to a university in your home state. Can you get a scholarship to that university? Will you be able to find a job to help defray your costs? (And also consider the cost.)
Consider the size of the university and the size of the community. Will you feel lost on a large university campus among 30,000 students? Would you prefer a college campus that is smaller? Would you feel cramped if you went to a small college? Would you be bored to tears if the college was in a small town were the sidewalks were rolled up by 9:00 PM on weekends?