Four Things to Consider When Choosing a College
Choosing which college to attend is easily one of the most important decisions you will make during your lifetime. Deciding which college to go to can be quite daunting for many young people, especially as there is so much riding on the decision. Whilst there is a lot of information available in order to help you make the best choice, knowing what to do when you are sizing up potential colleges is crucial to make sure that the process is as easy for you as possible. We’ve gathered together some of the key factors that you should consider when evaluating potential colleges to apply to.
Accreditation
Universities that are accredited are accepted by official agencies both locally and nationally as institutions which provide a high standard of quality education. Accreditation is an important factor to consider if you wish to attend grad school afterward; and it’s also crucial if you’re applying to study an advanced degree such as medicine, education or law. Choosing a university that is accredited is also important if you plan to transfer credits from one school to another.
photo Tulane University Public Relations via wikimedia commons
Subjects and Majors Available
No matter how amazing a college campus may be, it’s pretty useless if it doesn’t offer the degree course you are planning to take. When you are searching for colleges, be sure to check all of the information available on the website or brochure as it will let you know about the types of degree courses and subjects they have available to students. You should also take into consideration the school’s reputation for the subject that you wish to major in, as well as whether or not they specialize in certain courses. For example, if you’re hoping to study a sport professionally with a scholarship from asmscholarships.com, it’s advisable to look for colleges that have a high emphasis on sporting subjects.
Location
Where you choose to go to college is also an important part of the decision. Whether or not you wish to stay at home or live on campus will help you to decide what your options are. If you plan to stay at home, you’ll be limited to colleges that you can easily commute to, so look for colleges that are located nearby. On the other hand, if you’re planning on moving away to live on campus, take into account the area where your campus will be and try to get a feel for it before you make any final decisions. Take into account things such as whether you prefer to live in the city or the country, and make the effort to visit beforehand if possible.
Graduation Rate
Last but not least, it’s important to take into consideration the graduation rate of any potential colleges – even though it could be the last thing on your mind when you apply. With only 59% of students graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree, it’s important to look up the graduation rate of your potential college choices so that you can easily gauge their success.
What did you consider when choosing a college?
Guest Author: Carol Trehearn
