How to Choose a College

Even though there are thousands of colleges and universities in this country, it isn't that hard to narrow down your choice of schools by looking at these factors:

1. Type

What type of college are you most interested in?

• A 2-year community college? (These cost the least and can be found near where you live)
• A 4-year college or university? (To get a full Bachelor's degree, you must go to a 4-year college or university)
• Private, public or no preference? (Public schools tend to cost a little less and are usually larger in size)

2. Size

A large state university with 15,000 or more students: Larger schools have larger class sizes, especially in your first two years, which means that teachers can give you less individual attention. They usually have more classes and majors to choose from and more activities on campus, such as sports and music.

A mid-sized college or university with 3,000-15,000 students: Mid-sized schools usually have smaller class sizes than larger state schools, but also may have fewer courses and activities to choose from. It is important to make sure a mid-sized school offers the kind of courses you are interested in.

A small college with 3,000 students or less: Small colleges often feel a lot more like highs schools-you tend to know almost all of the students and teachers and everything is very close together. You will likely have a lot fewer courses to choose from, but will receive a lot of individualized attention from your teachers.

3. Location

• Do you want to go away to college or commute to a local school?
• Do you want to come home often or just on the holidays?
• Would you rather go to college in a city, suburbs or rural area?

4. Type of Academic Program

The type of program is very important. You should get answers to these questions:

• Which colleges have majors I might be interested in?
• Which are the graduation rates?
• What are the sizes of the classes in a particular major?

5. Campus Life

• What kinds of extra activities do they have/do I want? (like sports, fraternities/sororities and the arts).
• What type of housing is there? How are dorms assigned?
• Is there anything to do on the weekend or after school hours?
• How diverse is the school? Would I be welcomed there?

6. Cost

• What are the total costs of tuition, books, room and board?
• What types of financial aid does the school have?
• Is the school located in an expensive town?
• Would I need a car if I went to this school?

For more information on finding the right college, visit these sites:

Collegeboard.com

Petersons.com