How to Choose a College That’s Right for You

If you’re getting ready to apply for college or are choosing between multiple acceptance letters, you’ll find that every college offers different values to its students.

You might get accepted into a prestigious school in Boston then realize you don’t enjoy the frigid New England winters! The decision may not always be obvious and is entirely up to you.

Choosing your college isn’t easy, but considering these factors from our online learning center can help you determine the right choice.

Factors for Choosing a College

When asking, “How to choose a college?” you’ll want to think about more than just the curriculum and campus location. While those two aspects are important, several other key details can make or break your college experience. Check out these factors that will help you decide on your top choice:

Select from a College Short List

By now, you likely have a college short list – the narrowed-down choices of your top schools. The short list is uniquely your own; it contains the top schools you feel most confident about. Among these options, notice if there are any patterns or similarities. Finding these common features may offer you clues as to what is most appealing to you, possibly before you even realize it!

For example, if you notice that all of your top shortlisted colleges have a lively sports community, you may realize just how important that feature is. Having seasonal and community-focused events may enrich your college experience. When choosing a college for your short list, take a closer look at your top choices to learn more about your values.

Consider the College Admissions Process

Every institution is different in their front-end procedure. Some colleges require a round of interviews, whereas some prefer a video introduction. Some universities may only require the Common App essay prompt, whereas others have several of their own supplemental essay questions. Other colleges or universities may not even require an essay.

You may want to consider the college application process for each school. Generally, the more selective the school, the more in-depth their application process may be.

Pick a College in a Preferred Location

Real estate agents have a saying, “location, location, location!” This means that a house is only as valuable as the place it’s located in, and the same can be true for when you choose a university. While a college may appear like the perfect choice, its location can significantly affect your decision to go there.

Consider the following questions:

• Do you prefer rural or urban surroundings?
• Is the college campus close enough to get home in case of an emergency?
• Can you find necessities – grocery store, hospital, post office, walk-in clinic, and police station – within a reasonable distance?
• Are there other activities, such as malls, hiking trails, swimming pools, and beaches, to do in the area?

Think About All Transportation Options

Transportation can factor into the overall cost and experience of going to college. If you plan to attend a rural university, it’s not likely that reliable public transportation is available and thus you may need to have a car.

If your college is in a city, it’s more likely that you can take a bus, subway, or even walk to class. Public transportation will have its added expenses, although it’s typically cheaper than owning a car. You’ll have to adhere to a schedule and potentially have to leave early for class to account for possible delays.

Look into Tuition Fees and Affordability

Most colleges are extremely expensive and sometimes come with unexpected costs, such as laundry or extracurricular club fees, that add up over time. First, ask yourself these questions about the affordability of each university when choosing a school:

• What is the annual tuition cost?
• What are the added expenses (i.e., room and board, laundry fees, gym fees)?
• What is the local cost of living?
• If you choose to live off campus, what is the average monthly rent?
• What is the cost of transportation in the area (i.e. subway, bus, or train fees)?

Next, you can ask yourself these questions to offset costs:

• Are there work-study programs and, if so, is there a capped limit you can earn?
• What scholarships and/or grants are you eligible for?
• Are there any student discounts you can apply for?

Luckily, there are plenty of creative ways to save or make money throughout college. You might apply for a work-study job, which can allow you to make money while working on-campus. Keep in mind that depending on the college or scholarship, some work-study programs have a limit to how much money you can earn per semester. Additionally, you might find that some local business or school affiliates offer discounts to students. Your student affairs office may have a list of these locations. Likewise, signing up with a UNiDAYS can help you score discounts while shopping online.

Select a College with a Favorable Campus Culture

Students from the artistic and nonexistent campuses of New York City or the sports-centered college community of Columbus, Ohio, will tell you that every school has a culture. Sometimes it can be close-knit and humble or eclectic and arty. Many students have different preferences when it comes to a campus culture, so make sure to think it over wisely. If you aren’t certain about the campus environment or the university culture, try an in-person visit. If that isn’t possible, a great alternative is to check for student groups on Facebook who might post about on-campus events.

According to student polls, here are the campus activities that generate the most interest:

• Clubs (debate team, literary magazine, art club, philosophy, poetry)
• Sports (football, soccer, dance, cheerleading)
• Greek life (fraternities and sororities)
• Student leadership (event planning, student government, accounting)
• Clubs that celebrate diversity (African Americans on Campus, Asian Student Association, The Prism Club)

Decide on Your Ideal Class Size

The number of students in a class may make or break your daily college experience. For example, some colleges that have huge classes of over a hundred students may not offer you the same one-on-one collaboration with professors and peers. While it’s still possible to find your niche, college students tend to feel less connected in larger classes. If you prefer to have an intimate class experience, which offers more opportunity for open discussion and relationship building, you might consider a smaller college or university.

However, some individuals may thrive in the excitement of seeing new faces every day. You also may prefer more peers in one class, finding that the teacher doesn’t get as sidetracked from additional questions and discussion as with smaller class groups.

Key Takeaways on How to Choose a College

Deciding on a college will determine your experience for the coming years. It may also affect where you decide to live and work in the future; therefore, it’s not a decision to take lightly. Make sure you do as much brainstorming and research as necessary early on so you can make an informed choice that has your best interests in mind. You should consider these top aspects for your university:

• Location
• On- and off-campus activities
• Extracurriculars
• Sports
• Student associations and communities
• Major and minor offerings
• Fees and scholarship opportunities