Choosing a College that is Right for You

What is the right college for you? Many students fail to answer this question before they actually go off to college, leaving them in a hole and nothing to do but hope they can graduate and transfer out. Not figuring out what your interests are with respect to college can be particularly wasteful, as you will spend extra time, effort, and tuition money before you find a place to truly settle down.

Before you can evaluate what college you would like to attend or what you want to major in, you must first evaluate yourself. Silly as it may sound, you really have to choose a subject matter depending on how you already act and what your current interests are. If you love writing articles, poems, and freelancing but you hate math, you probably won't major in engineering, no matter how much pressure there is from your family or relatives (well you could, but you'd probably do poorly). Choosing a college major stems from your interest base, whether it be music, math, or language. With this in mind, you are ready to start the next step in deciding on what institution of higher education to attend.

Having decided on what your interests are and what kind of job you would like to take on later is the first step to continuing your schooling. You must take college as a time to mold your education, not let it structure you. Once you have decided on your interests and made the decision to actually go to college, you must decide on your goals. Some students know 100% that they want to be lawyers. Others have no clue where a college degree might take them, but they know that eventually they want this route to lead them somewhere. Although the earlier you figure this out the better, some institutions are much broader in scope and offer many more opportunities to switch around should you change your mind later, while some colleges such as technical schools aren't really great for that student who can't seem to decide on a major just yet. Do some research and see which universities are more known for what, but continue to narrow down your own choices as it will make your later decisions easier.

There are many things to evaluate whether an institution is suited for you. Say you came from a small town, and you want to experience the city life. Attending a big university such as UCLA or NYU may sound appealing, but realize that you may not be used to the setting in which you are placed. Some students want to try out a new environment that ultimately brings them closer to their roots as they transfer out after some time. Others (hard as it may be at first) eventually find ways to adapt and adjust. A big school or a small school is usually a large difference as well. In a smaller institution, you have the chance to meet up with pretty much everyone in your class, have a closer relationship with your instructors, and generally feel a sense of enclosed surrounding. Large schools usually have thousands of students, making it impossible for you to come in contact with everyone. Forget the attention you are anticipating - you probably won't get noticed much around campus. As usual, knowing more about yourself can determine the answer to this question. If you are stubborn, easily frustrated, and don't really like change, then perhaps choosing a university that is similar to your hometown is more suitable. If you really enjoy jumping into new situations and making the most of what you have, then maybe a change for you is good, as it will expose you to a larger variety of people, preparing you for the business world.

If you have a particular hobby or interest set besides your studies such as skiing or surfing, then choosing a school that puts you closer to the mountains or along the coast is also a decision to consider. If you cut yourself off from the things that you really enjoy, you will quickly become homesick and begin to dislike college.

Even so, you must realize that sooner or later you will have to leave home and do something with your life. Cutting yourself off from comfort will put you in a position to really test yourself too see your potential. Finding a place that will force you to adapt to unfamiliar situations is a way to challenge yourself to do something that will require more effort and feel more rewarding. Most people won't be able to feel relaxed all of the time on the job, as they will have deadlines to meet, people to present to, and a family to take care of. Schooling far from home in an unfamiliar place might just be the training you need in order to take that next step in developing life skills.

Visiting some of the universities of your choice can also be something to think about. All schools have a Division of Student Affairs (or something of that nature) where they will hold tours, seminars, and workshops for incoming freshmen or students thinking about attending their institution. Many will even offer financial packages or discounts for travel and room and board expenses if you don't live in-state.

Finally, you should really consider your chances of acceptance at a certain institution. If your GPA is a bit low and your SAT scores aren't really that high, don't bank on Harvard groveling at your doorstep. Consider all the facts before you make a decision, but be realistic in how your expectations are set up. When you are down to earth in making your decisions on where to go, you will make clearer and smarter decisions, as well as not being so disappointed when something doesn't go your way. Many students have trouble with deciding on colleges with money being the only limiting factor. Don't worry; if you really show the ambition to attend a certain university and your scores are good enough, there is financial aid to help your family pay for the cost of your education.

Take charge of your own life - stop listening to where your friends are going or where your parents think you should go (although they probably have your best interests in heart). College is a time to discover things on your own, and deciding on exactly what college to attend is that very first step.