According to the National Center for Education Statistics there were 7,021 colleges in the United States in 2011. For a high school junior or senior who is trying to figure out where to continue their education, that’s a pretty daunting number.
Realistically, you’re not going to have to apply to, tour, and choose among all of these colleges, but I know that sometimes it may feel like it. After spending the last two years buried under college pamphlets, stress eating while web-surfing, and throwing away piles of junk mail, I’d say I know a thing or two about colleges.
So, to save you and others from hours of hair-pulling, I have compiled my knowledge into a quick list of questions you can use to narrow down your school choices to the ones that are really worth your time.
Where in the world do you want to go to school? Deciding where you want to go to school is critical so that you can rule out colleges not in that area. Decide if you want to stay in state or go out of state. Both options have their advantages: in-state schools generally have a lower tuition for state residents, while out of state schools give you a bigger sense of independence.
If you want to stay in-state: begin looking at colleges the desired distance
from your hometown. If you want to stay close, research local colleges or
those within a two to three hour radius. If you want to put more distance
between you and your roots, look for schools outside of the three hour radius.
If you want to go out-of state: Decide what states you specifically want to
look at and research options.
What size of a school do you want to attend? Colleges come in many different sizes, they can range anywhere from 50,000 students to 500. Choosing a school size is all about personal preference. If you like an atmosphere where everyone knows everyone, look for schools under 3,000 students. If you enjoy walking to class and not knowing a single person you pass on the way, look at schools with 10,000+ students. If you are more of a happy medium, somewhere between 3,000 and 10,000 should be right for you.
Private or Public College? Both private and public colleges have their advantages and disadvantages. Private schools generally have a smaller student population, but a higher price-tag. On the upside they offer lots of scholarships and financial aid to help with the high price of attending. They are also generally liberal arts schools, which is a great option for some. Public schools tend to have a larger population, and a lower sticker price. They also offer scholarships and financial aid, but not as much as private institutions. However public schools are generally able to offer more fields of study because of their advanced size.
Considering these three questions and using them to eliminate schools from your list can greatly reduce the number of hours you have to spend stressing out. Happy college hunting!
A few extra things to consider when touring a college: The months that you live on a college campus are generally the coldest of the year, so know how far you would have to walk outdoors to different classes; pay attention to how happy and friendly the students are, they are the people you will be living with; try the cafeteria food, seriously just try it before you commit to eating it for nine months.
