How to Choose the Right College
High school students find choosing the right college to be extremely overwhelming. It’s an emotional time full of big decisions and rites of passage. In the midst of all this, it’s expected of students to rationally think about their career choice and academic future.
That’s why it’s important to start preparing for college admission well in advance. Any student should have enough time to decide what college they want to get in and what college will suit their academic and professional needs.
Self-examination
There are a lot of factors you need to consider when choosing a college. The first important question is: What kind of a career will you be able to start with the knowledge you acquired on that college? The contacts and connections made in college also mean a lot in the business world. However, none of this is as important as your own interests and preferences are.
You should be realistic and try to define your academic strengths and weaknesses. This goes beyond just determining your favorite class – you should also take into account your learning style and how well you do under pressure.
Making a short list
One of the most common mistakes students make is denying themselves options. Students often focus on only one college and don’t make back-up plans. This can turn out to be a problem on both psychological and practical level. If they don’t get in their preferred college, students get discouraged and often need to take a gap year before they apply for some other college.
It’s best to make a pro and con list for each college and then rank them according to your wishes and the quality of education they provide. Always have a few backup options to rely on in case something goes wrong.
Admission process
Admission standards for some of these colleges are pretty high. Ivy League schools, in particular, have a long and complicated admission process designed to select the best students from all over the world. It’s important to have this in mind when choosing a college and start with preparations in advance, like taking a SAT prep course if your goal is to get into one of these schools.
Institutions like Crimson Education provide help with preparing for top universities. They can help you with essays, GPA and transcripts. By tailoring your application to the college you want to enroll at, you’ll increase your chances of being accepted.
Financial aid
Colleges are expensive and being able to pay for them may be a real challenge. Moreover, the majority of students end up being in debt for years after they finish college. Therefore, it’s important to factor in the cost of tuition as well.
Ask about financial aid the colleges you’re interested in are offering, because the college with the highest tuition can turn out to be the cheapest option, when you take aid into account.
Compromise
Students are often emotionally invested in this process. It’s understandable because a lot depends on the decision they make, and it’s – in a way – a testament to their academic achievements. However, this is just one single aspect of their careers.
Rejections are something that young people need to learn to accept and learn from. Therefore, keep in mind that you might need to make certain compromises when choosing a college and you need to take this into consideration right from the very start.
Choosing a college is a big and sometimes overwhelming decision. It’s important to take it seriously and start preparing for admission on time.
