The time is rapidly approaching where seniors need to make the decision of where they are attending for the next four years. It is truly a tough decision to make especially when you are in between multiple colleges.
The way to evaluate your choices is to break down the factors that matter to you for each school. I personally made a pros and cons list to help with mine! This is your decision, therefore make sure it entails what you like.
Campus life
A big factor that contributes to making a decision is the campus life. Campus life consists of the social scene, the dorms, and food options.
Dorms are where you are going to be spending a good amount of time while not at class so ensuring that you like the dorm styles (single, double, etc.) matters. Most college’s websites include each dorm building plus floor plan layouts to help decide which you prefer.
The meal plan also can be a factor for some people. The dining hall is not the only food option on campus, there are usually chain restaurants as well. If this matters to you then try and research the meal plan plus the cost for each plan because it can be expensive.
The social aspect makes a great impact on how you are going to make friends and of course the party life, if that is a factor you value. Furthermore, picking a school that has a big Greek life and many clubs will help with ensuring you make friends! This could be a staple especially if you plan on going away for college.
It is super important to try and tour the campus, that way you can get the full experience of being a student. Questions like “How many students live on campus” and “What activities are there on campus” are really important to consider depending on what you like.
One social media app that has helped me see the true student life is Tiktok. A simple search of the college’s name will populate tons of videos from students that attend.
Location
One factor that was very important to me was location. Figuring out if you favor being closer to home or not will help narrow down your options. On top of that, places to go in your free time outside of campus is something to consider! I personally am super excited to be 1.8 miles away from the beach.
Cost
The cost of college can be a decider of where you plan on attending or not. Private institutions tend to cost more than public ones, so that is something to keep in mind when evaluating financially.
On top of that, financial aid and scholarships are super important to take advantage of. Financial aid like FAFSA and the CSS Profile definitely need to be talked about more in high school because they can help tremendously in cutting the cost of college.
Pick the most affordable college for you because ultimately a degree is a degree and you’ll be less likely to have high debt after graduation.
Majors and Opportunities
Deciding what you want to major in is already a hard decision on top of picking which college you want to attend. Though, most schools are known for a specific major which can benefit you in the long run if you are set on what you want to pursue for your future career. If you have doubts about your major it is recommended that you don’t base your decision on that but rather other factors like academics or opportunities.
Opportunities can come in forms as internships, clubs, research studies, and special programs. These are super important for the future of your career. Networking through these opportunities can boost your chances of getting that sweet job that you’ve always dreamed of. Employers do take these details on a resume into consideration.
Making a decision for which college you want to attend is hard but know that no matter where you choose it is the correct decision!
