So many choices. So hard to choose
For many seniors and juniors, choosing a college may be the most important decision they have made. This process can be so overwhelming, but there are ways to break it down.
Location is something that you should consider.
Do you find yourself more comfortable in a city or rural area? Cities have more access to activities and internship/research opportunities. Rural areas tend to have larger campuses with more green space. How far away from home do you want to be? Do you want to be able to visit on the weekends? Or be a plane ride away?
Another factor to consider is the climate at your college. For example, if you find yourself loving the summertime and heat, then a southern school would be best for you.
Although college is a place where people personally grow, it is also meant to be a place where you further your educational career, so it is important to ensure that your college offers your major of choice, and how difficult it is to get classes to fulfill your major.
According to Weilcollegeadvising.com, some benefits of attending a larger school are that they tend to offer a wider variety of majors/classes and more flexibility in your schedule. Due to large class sizes, it can be difficult to build a personal relationship with your professors. Smaller schools offer a more individualized experience where you can get more personalized attention and opportunities to lead.
Unfortunately, a very important aspect of picking a college is the cost, which is rising every year. The average cost to attend an in-state public university is $30,990 each year, and $65,470 annually for a private institution, says credible.com.Â
Luckily, there are ways to lower that cost. There are millions of scholarships open to students to apply for, including local ones here in Sutton. There is also the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) which is a way for families to apply for money, given by the federal government, to help students afford college.
For some people, sports play a large role in the college decision-making process. There are 371 NCAA Division 1 schools, 300 Division 2, and 429 Division 3 schools, although some of these numbers vary by sport.Â
The seventh factor to consider is the campus’s life or culture. You can research this online, but I recommend visiting the campus in person. This way, you can view how the students interact with others and their environment on campus. It also allows you to experience the culture on campus, which can be difficult to determine from a website.
A final factor that some students may take into consideration is the reputation or ranking of an institution. However, this should not be a major factor, because people come from all different institutions and all end up in the same spot. But if rankings are important to you, usnews.com ranks all colleges and universities in many different categories.
Overall, your college should be somewhere that you enjoy and envision yourself being successful, and if you end up selecting a school that is not the best choice for you, you can always transfer. Your path is not set in stone.
