Choosing a college is far less difficult than most people think. There are just ten rules to remember. 1. Don't even think about making a final college choice without visiting at least your top two choices...more if possible. Visits are the only reliable way to learn about the campus environments of the colleges you are considering and how good a "fit" you might be. And bring your parents along if you can...you might find their impressions helpful. 2. Do not, under any circumstances, break rule #1. 3. A college is not necessarily right for you because its name is familiar. That seems pretty obvious, but you wouldn't believe how many students equate educational quality with name recognition. 4. Take the extra step of identifying and investigating at least three colleges you know almost nothing about but offer the major in which you are interested, are in locations you like, and have admissions criteria which make you a good candidate. You might be very pleasantly surprised at what you find. 5. There are very few worse reasons to select a college than because your friends are going there. Choosing a college because your girlfriend or boyfriend is headed there is one them. In fact, if there is a worse reason to choose a college, it escapes me. 6. Do your research and be sure to separate reality from (often baseless) opinions. Lots of folks will refer to a college as "good", "hard to get into", "a party school", "too expensive", etc. without knowing the facts. Don't accept these kinds of generalizations without evidence. 7. Do not rule out colleges early because of cost. Many colleges offer scholarships, financial aid, and tuition installment plans that make them far more affordable than they may first appear. You can't/won't know how much it will cost to attend a college until the very end of the process. 8. You may have to contend with ACT deadlines, SAT deadlines, scholarship deadlines, financial aid deadlines, and college application deadlines. Close your eyes for thirty seconds and imagine how stupid you will feel if you fail to get into a college or get money for which you qualify because you miss a deadline. Then, to avoid feeling stupid, write down all operative deadlines and check them often. 9. Don't be afraid to apply to a few "reach schools"you might be pleasantly surprised by the results if you are not entirely unrealistic. Apply to at least three colleges you like which are likely to admit you. Remember, choose these three colleges very carefully as they are the places you are mostly likely to wind up at. And, choose at least two "safety" collegescolleges to which you are virtually certain you will be admitted. Choosing "safety" schools they don't really like is a mistake many students maketake the time to choose safety schools you would be happy to attend. 10. If, when it is time to make your final college choice, you are not sure which institution you should choose, don't be afraid to get some help. Because the real question to be answered is in which college are you most likely to be happy and successful, solicit the opinions of those who know you well and tend to have good judgement. Once you have given some thought to their advice and come to a decision, don't look back. Remember that the steps you have taken throughout the process almost guarantee that you have made a good choice and are on your way to four or five great years.
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Choosing a college is far less difficult than most people think. There are just ten rules to remember.
Daniel Kane has worked in high schools, colleges, and universities for more than thirty years. He has websites on subjects including online education and online colleges . You can get a unique content version of this article.
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