As a senior, you can’t wait to graduate from high school. To leave everything behind, make new friends, and discover new opportunities, One of the biggest ways to accomplish this is through college. You hear about college all the time, from your family, your friends, and your teachers. At first, it seems like something so far away and not something you need to worry about for a while. While this is true, nobody realizes how fast time goes by and before you know it, like me, college is right around the corner and I need to decide in less than one month. College can be a frustrating process, especially when you can’t decide where to go. We all know the struggles – I even know the struggles. You want to pick the college that best fits you, the college that has the best opportunities and a great community.
Here is a list to look at when considering your college after high school:
- Does your intended major at this school have a good program?
A college having a good program for specific majors is extremely important for an incoming student. This ensures that this program students receive a high-quality education and the right training in their intended field of study. A good program can provide students with opportunities for hands-on learning and valuable resources with faculty who are experienced and trained. With hands-on learning, you can have access to internships and volunteer opportunities around your college area. This is important because it helps better your success and chances of getting a job once you have graduated from college.
- How is housing and food?
Although at first you may not take a college’s housing and food into consideration, it is important to do so. With good housing, it ensures that you are comfortable and safe. You should always take into consideration each housing building on the campus of your college choice. Your dorm room will be your home for the next year and you want to make sure that it is the best fit for you. This goes along with food as well. Food may not be something you see as very important but it should be. When having high-quality food that your campus provides, and shows that the college cares about your health and wants to provide you with good food. We also all know how expensive dining and takeout can be, so a good meal plan at your school, can benefit you and your bank account.
- Can I afford it?
Asking yourself if you can afford a specific college is one of the most important questions to ask yourself. Tuition, housing, food, and other various fees can quickly add up and greatly affect you. Everyone knows that college can be expensive, but you don’t want it to be too expensive. If you know you cannot afford a college, you should try and consider a different one with better prices. You should make sure that you always apply for scholarships through colleges, your school, and outside sources. This can bring down the cost of attendance.
- Is it a safe environment and are the students and faculty friendly?
Everybody wants to feel safe, no matter where they are – and especially at the place that you may call home. A safe environment and friendly student and faculty create a positive atmosphere for you and others. When you feel safe and comfortable in a new environment, this can help the stress of a new change and make you feel secure. This goes with a friendly community as well because nobody wants to feel unwelcomed – especially somewhere they are not entirely familiar with. It is important to look at various reviews and other students’ opinions on your colleges.
- Do I see myself thriving here throughout the years to come?
Although it may not seem like it, college is a place where you should be successful and work hard. If you do not see yourself thriving at this college – if you don’t see a successful future for yourself when considering a college, it may not be the one for you. If you do not work hard in college, your future may not be as successful and as great as you may imagine. If you envision your future and determine if the education at a school aligns with your future and goals, you should follow that.
While it is undeniably true that making a decision when it comes to where you are going to college can be fairly difficult, you should also note that it is also a time to learn more about yourself and what you want to do. You get to choose where you want to go and what you want to do when it comes to school – something that you’ve never had the option of doing throughout your life. College is a place where you grow as a person and finalize where you want to go and what you want to be. Even when it’s hard, it will probably be one of the best decisions of your life.
Source:
Picture – https://www.usnews.com/education/best-global-universities/articles/college-vs-university-whats-the-difference
