Making a College Choice

    Making a college choice can be like making other important decisions that challenge you. Until you find a place to begin, a method to organize the task into smaller pieces, a way to put a great deal of information into a meaningful package, it may seem almost impossible to make a good decision.

Begin by identifying what your reasons are for going to college.

What do you hope to gain?

What learning opportunities do you need?

What are your goals?

What are your career ambitions?

How will college help you achieve these goals and ambitions?

The next step is to relate these goals to factors you can use as you search for colleges that meet your needs.

Factors to consider:

1. Type of college

• Two-or four-year college?

• Residential or commuter?

• Large or small?

• College or university?

2. Location

• What area(s) of the country can you realistically consider?

• What about the relation between location and costs?

• Are specific interests and goals tied to a specific location?

3. Admissions selectivity

• What are the application procedures?

• What tests are required?

• Are there any deadlines?

•  What high school course preparation is needed?

• Are you eligible for admission?

• What academic demands can you expect to find?

4. Costs

• How much will it cost?

• What kind of financial aid is available?

• How do you apply for financial aid?

5. Majors and study programs available

• Does the school offer the major you want?

• If you are undecided, does the school offer you the chance to explore areas of your interest?

• Does the school have any kind of internship program?

6. Social life

• What is the campus atmosphere like?

• What extracurricular activities are available?

        After you have developed a list of colleges to consider, begin to form a detailed and complete picture of each college. This will be helpful in identifying those that best fit your needs.

        Almost all colleges require tests for admission. Others may use the results for placement purposes in certain courses or programs. Registration packets for all tests are available in the counseling office.