Choosing a College

You’ve no doubt heard from your parents, teachers, guidance counselor, and great aunt Clara how important choosing a college is to your future. And everyone probably has their own opinion on which school is the best. So, how do you pick? Do you base your decision on a winning football team, what school your dad attended, nice school colors, telepathy?

The first step is to relax. You don’t have to decide every aspect of your entire life right away. However, it is important, and the sooner you start the process, the better.

What’s the Big Deal?
Real life means that you will need to find a way to support yourself. Now more than ever, most employers require some sort of degree as a basic requirement, and lifetime earnings are higher if you hold one. Studies show that workers will switch jobs, and even change careers, throughout their life. Higher education gives you the flexibility needed to do this.

Eenie, Meenie, Minie, Moe …
There are literally thousands of higher education institutions in the United States, ranging from community colleges and private schools with a few thousand students to public schools with enrollments of a few hundred thousand. Tuition and fees also vary greatly. How do you find the place that’s just right for you?

Information Is Power
Choosing your college should not be like a blind date. Being prepared is the key. Not gathering info ahead of time is like ordering from a menu in a French restaurant when you don’t know a word of French: make sure you only end up eating snails if you really want to.

Your guidance counselor and teachers actually can provide good advice, and hundreds of college guides are printed each year. And, of course, there’s the Internet. There are sites to help you make your decision, sites about financial aid, and sites for specific schools. You can even apply online.

Get Started
The first step is to set your own priorities: what is important to you? Ask yourself what you would like to study. What do you do well? What subjects do you like? Where do you see yourself in the future? Have you dreamed of being a astronomer, jazz musician, or forensic scientist? Would you like to work for NASA or a Fortune 500 business?

Once you narrow down what you would like to study, you can zero in on schools that offer it as a major. Make a list of what’s important to you, and ask yourself more questions. Do you want to commute or live on campus? Do you want to travel across the country or not leave your home state? Does the thought of taking classes with hundreds of others sound exciting? Does the school you’re considering have a strong department in your major? Would you like to live in a city or a smaller "college” town?

Other factors to consider include the total student experience. What kind of academic and social support programs does the school have? Is the faculty well respected? Are recreation opportunities nearby? How many graduates are hired? What kind of financial aid is available?

Money
Don’t believe that you can’t afford to go. Financial aid is given by the federal government and schools, and there are bank loans and the work study program (a job on campus related to your studies). Colleges compete for students with good grades, but if you don’t have a 4.0, don’t despair. There are thousands of private scholarships, so again, the key is research. Talk to the schools you’re interested in about financial aid.

Zeroing In
Come up with a list of schools you are interested in, and narrow it down. Apply to your top two or three choices. If you can, visit them.

Choosing a college is important, but it is also exciting. Higher education can make your dreams come true, so start planning now. Maybe your great aunt Clara was right after all.

Editorial provided by Kathy Deweese, Assistant University Editor at West Virginia University.