Honestly, there is no formula to determining which college will be ideal for a student. And, just because you hear that a particular university rocks doesn’t mean it will suite your needs and interests. It’s important for each individual student to decide for themselves where they will be happy, since, after all, it will be their home for 4 years.
Though there are no set rules for making this important decision, in general it is a bad idea to choose a college based on only one factor. Because humans are multidimensional, you should take into consideration all of the things that are likely to be important to you. This will require some hard work and careful research on your part, but it will be well worth it. Consider making a pro and con list of all of the important aspects you want to consider for each college. To help get you started, make sure you aren’t using these bad ways to choose your college.
1. The ____ friend
This one may be cliché, but it is so for a reason…because it happens so frequently. But consider that what is a great college for one person isn’t for another. And even if your boyfriend/girlfriend/best friend is attending school there, keep in mind that one of the great things about college is the opportunity to meet new people and experience new things. If you and your ____ friend are truly committed to the relationship, not being on the same campus won’t matter in the long run.
2. The location
Regardless of whether you can’t wait to get away from home or you want to stay as close to home as possible, choosing a college simply because of its location is a bad idea. If the location is truly important to you, at least do your research into several college options that meet that requirement. Then you can pick the one that is truly best for you while still being in a location that suites you.
3. The program
If the program you want to go into is stellar, but you don’t like much else about the university, reconsider. There are typically several universities that offer top programs, no matter what degree you are considering. By examining several colleges that have top-rated programs of interest, you can determine which one really fits best with all of your interests. Remember that college is about more than academics. Though you want to choose a quality program that will prepare you for a successful career, you don’t want to be totally miserable for 4 years while you earn your degree.
4. The sports/dorms/food/parties
No matter who you are, you are not one-dimensional. And while the quality of the college’s sports teams, dorms, food or parties might be important to you, that one thing alone will not make you happy while on your own for the first time. Make sure that the college you choose to attend has multiple pros for you, not just one. Believe it or not, students cannot live by football alone.
5. The only one
Going to a college just because it is the only one that accepted you means one thing: you didn’t apply to enough. It’s rare that a student only gets one offer. Make sure that you spend the time to investigate lots of different colleges, attend college visits, talk to heads of departments, check out the town atmosphere, learn the important college statistics and then apply to several that have lots to offer you. That way, even if your first pick doesn’t come through, you will still have a great chance of attendingone that you will be proud to call your alma mater.