Picking the right college is very important, and you should take your time in making such a decision. While it is good to listen to the advice of your parents or other family members when they tell you to pick their own alma later, ultimately, you need to make the choice because you’re the one who has to endure at least four years of college.
To help you with your search, here are some questions you can ask to make it easier for you.
- Are you able to afford the cost or whether you can avail of financial aid? – one of the first things you should consider is whether you can pay for the tuition. There may be student loans but it might not be enough, and you might be saddled with a debt that could take so many years to pay. You can look into any scholarships or financial aid the college might have to offer.
- Can you interview alums from your high school about the colleges they are at? – it’s good to get first-hand information about the college you are eyeing, and not just facts from the university website. Try to see if anyone who graduated from your high school is studying or has graduated from your prospective college. Take the time to interview them, not just about their classes, but their college life in general too.
- Do you like the offered curriculum? – ultimately, you go to college to study, so the first thing you need to look at are the courses that you will be studying. Do they seem appropriate? What makes the courses under a certain program different from that of another college? Don’t just look at the academic side, but also others like sports and other activities. You want to have access to not just academics but also extra-curricular activities that can enhance your social and leadership skills.
- Have you visited the campus and taken a tour of the town it’s located at? – if you have the budget and the time, take a tour of the campus. And don’t just take the regular ones where you will be brought to different buildings, why not go where the students are. Maybe you can see what a class is like, or take a seat at the quad to feel the vibe of the place. Don’t forget to go around the town to see what other attractions are offered. You want a place that can match your own interests and personality.
- Is the college near centers for those undergoing treatment? – this may not be applicable to all, but there are incoming college students who have gone through some challenges that made them turn to alcohol or substance abuse. If you are one of those, you would need access to recovery centers to help you get better. So if you are going to college in Washington for example, you should look for treatment centers in Washington that can assist you in your recovery.
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