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Where Are You Going? |
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If you like many of the classes you have taken, then a program with a strong general education (or "liberal arts") component in its curriculum may appeal to you. Such a program allows--and in some cases requires--you to take a wide variety of college courses. This type of program can help you determine an academic major and possibly a career objective.
If you have identified a specific trade¾ for example, if you want to be an electrician, carpenter, hairdresser, or brick mason¾ look at vocational, trade, or technical programs. Programs that prepare you for a particular vocation or trade generally concentrate on specialized coursework and are often shorter than programs geared toward an associate's or bachelor's degree.
If you plan to enter a profession such as law, medicine, or business, you may need to enroll in an undergraduate program with a major in that subject area, and then continue your education at the graduate level. Other professions, such as engineering or teaching, may require a program combining liberal arts and specialized coursework for four or five years.
Some professions, such as nursing, offer many different levels of training and education. You might be able to get a very satisfying job after just two or three years of study, but you might prefer the level of responsibility and specialization that requires four or five years of study, or more.
Don't worry if you have not decided on a specific career goal, or even if you have not figured out your life goals. Goals serve as guideposts to help you explore your potential. You can always change your goals, but it's hard to choose a school if you have not at least narrowed down your choices. Once you have a general idea of the areas you'd like to study or be trained in, identifying colleges to attend becomes more manageable.
There are many types of postsecondary schools from which to choose: public colleges and universities, private colleges and universities, community and junior colleges, trade and technical schools, and career and vocational schools. You may find variations of the academic programs that interest you at several different types of schools or a particular program in which you are interested may be offered at more than one school of the same type.
Here are some things to consider in your selection process:
Once you have identified your areas of academic or vocational interest, your first consideration will be whether a school offers the training or academic program you need. Having the relevant program and offering a quality education in that area of study should be your primary reasons for selecting a school.
Determine your comfort zone. For example, do you want a relatively small academic environment or do you prefer a larger campus community? The advantages and disadvantages are based on individual preference. Small colleges may offer lower student/faculty ratios and easier interaction with all of the campus community outside the classroom. You may, however, feel more at home at a larger school, even if it takes more effort to obtain access to your teachers. Larger schools typically offer more extracurricular activities as well as a wider range of course offerings, but your classes may be larger.
Do you want to go to school in a large city or a small town? Don't make the mistake of thinking that if you want to go to a larger school it has to be in a big city or vice versa. Whether you want to live on campus or commute to school while living at home will also affect your choice. Remember some colleges do not offer on-campus housing.
How far away from home do you want to be? Some students feel college is an opportunity to be on their own for the first time. As a result, they choose schools hundreds of miles away. You may find you can experience the same independence even if your school is closer to home. Keep in mind that distance may increase transportation costs.
You may not meet the admission requirements of your first college choice. Make sure you have alternatives. Unless the school you have selected has an "open" admission policy, apply to more than one school. If you do well at your second choice school, you may eventually be able to transfer to your first choice school.
Do you want to participate in intercollegiate athletics? Do you want to attend a school with a strong athletic tradition, even if you don't participate? Depending upon your skill you may be able to participate in a small college athletic program but not in a large university program. If sports are important to you, that will be a factor in your college selection process. Even if sports do not interest you, other recreational or social activities may be just as important to you and should be considered.
What schools can you afford to attend? This question is, for many students, instrumental in the college selection process. Never exclude a school from consideration for financial reasons without first investigating financial assistance programs, which may help you pay for your educational costs.
When looking at the cost of attending any institution, make sure you have a realistic picture.
Consider the above list as a starting point. Add questions that reflect your own special concerns. Keep a notebook or a folder for each college you have in mind. This way the information you have gathered about each school will be organized in one central place.
But how do you make the "right" choice?
Build the file around your own particular requirements. As you contemplate your choices, your personal values should and will influence this important decision. Click here for a worksheet you may want to use when comparing schools.
Some questions to answer when selecting a school:
Many of the answers to your questions can be found in the school's catalog. High school counselors can often add information not found in books; they might have talked to other students who have attended the schools you are considering. If you know any students currently at those schools, talk to them about the academic programs offered, the campus facilities, the teachers, and the atmosphere. Public libraries frequently have information on colleges and careers. You can also check out the school's web page or use a searchable database that provides school information, such as Peterson's or the College Board. Many admissions offices and financial aid offices have their own web pages, as well.
Whatever else you do, once you have identified the schools that seriously interest you, don't neglect the best and most direct source of information. Visit the school yourself for a first-hand view. Here are some pointers:
You may be able to accomplish these visits during the summer or other vacation periods, but the best time to see what campus life is like is when the school is in regular session. You don't need to wait until your senior year in high school; it's never too early to begin exploring all of the possibilities available to you.
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National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators
Opening Doors of Educational Opportunity
Copyright © 2004 by the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators.
All rights reserved.
Updated April 2004.
