Factors to Consider in Selecting a College

Did you know that there are more than 3,500 two-and four-year colleges and universities across the country? Among those schools are liberal arts colleges, research universities, community colleges, schools with great football or basketball teams, and public and private institutions with enrollments of more than 20,000 or less than 5,000 students.

You may be asked by your parents, school counselors, teachers or even college admission representatives, What factors among these different schools are important to you? Despite the sheer number and variety of colleges and universities availablethere is a college for you. The following tips will provide some guidance in your exploration.

There are hundreds of guidebooks, viewbooks, videos, and ratings publications that contain information about colleges and universities. In your counselors resource center or counseling office, there may be numerous interactive software programs that allow you to mix and match factors to generate a list of schools that you may consider.

Undoubtedly you will find hundreds of schools that offer your major, have a great library, have a reasonable cost for tuition, or a great football team. But remember, the process of finding the right college for you should begin with answering questions about what is most important to you.

Your friends, siblings, parents, counselors or teachers might mention schools that they think are great. Ultimately, you will be the one attending classes, living in residence halls, and interacting with other students and faculty for the next two to four years, so you need to consider factors about yourself as well as the colleges youre selecting.

Consider the questions and answers to the following:
1. Would you prefer to attend a school close to home for financial reasons or to stay close to your family? Staying close to home for college would permit you to live at home and save money or stay near your parents and siblings. Also, attending a two-year school may give you time to work on your study skills and raise your grade point average.
2. Do you prefer a small school that would permit greater interaction with other students and professors or a large school where there are many different types of students, programs, and services? Does size of the enrollment really matter to you? Academic life can vary from college to college depending on the number of students in attendance, the number of faculty and their availability to students, their teaching styles, your preferred learning style, or combinations of all of these factors.
As a senior, it might be beneficial for you to keep a journal of your feelings in different types of situations at school to help you better understand where you feel the most comfortable.
3. Should you apply to an Ivy League caliber school, and are you ready for the rigors of such programs? Have you taken a competitive course load in high school? Do you have strong grades? Do you enjoy learning and being academically challenged? Would this type of environment be too stressful? Dont apply to colleges based solely on name recognition or academic reputation. Even if you have great grades or are number one in your class, you may not be admitted to such schools. It is smart to apply to a range of colleges and universities, usually up to six. Within the six colleges for which you apply for admission, make certain you have not applied only to the highly selective or competitive schools, but also schools to which you know you will be admitted. Include a school that is financially safe, meaning one that you and your parents can afford without too much financial assistance. Dont apply to just one school or one type of school. Dont limit your options.
4. Can your family afford the tuition, room and board, and other expenses of certain colleges? Will you have to work or get a student loan? The costs of attending a four-year institution may be over $25,000 per year. Nevertheless, dont let the costs keep you from applying because you may be eligible for scholarships, grants and loans. Do your research. There are a number of colleges that offer a quality education at a cost that may be considerablyless.

Other Factors to Consider
Before you consider an early decision plan, you need to be certain that the school is your first choice and that you are willing to withdraw all other applications if you are offered admission to that school. An early decision offer of admission is binding.

Most students feel they should be eligible for some type of scholarship especially if they have maintained good grades. This is another area in which research is necessary. Scholarships may be available from your local community or church groups, parents employers, or other sources in addition to the college.

Every student may not receive a scholarship and may have to get a student loan to help pay for college expenses. You and your family will have to consider how much in loans you are willing to assume over four years.

For some students, the composition of the student body is important. Whether by race or ethnicity, religious affiliation, gender or geographic location, it may be important to know if there are other students on campus who look like you, share your beliefs, or are from your hometown among other concerns.

Read the colleges' materials and do your homework prior to submitting an application. Take some time to understand what is most important to you as you are developing your list of factors to consider when selecting a college.

Editorial by National Association for College Admission Counseling.