Medium Size Colleges
Before you sit down and pick a college, you need to do a
little bit of research. If you have had the idea that you will
go to a certain college all of your life, you may want to
re-evaluate all the criteria for selection beforehand.
4 Indisputable Truths to Help You Choose a
College
By
Andrew Marx
I always remember thinking, what’s the big deal, it is only
college? These days, it is a big deal, and higher education is a
competitive market for your attention. Just remember it is easier to
pick a college than the high school advisors, college guides and
your parents make it out to be. Relax, take a deep breath and keep
in mind these four indisputable truths about choosing a college.
1. A Little Information
Goes a Little Way
I was not well prepared for selecting a college. My parents did
not properly instill in me the need for selectivity and criteria,
though they might be surprised to hear that now. All of my peers had
dreams of a particular school, or a particular academic reputation,
or they aimed for a certain city. I had distances.
The minimum distance was 500 miles from my mother and 500 miles
from my father. In order to meet these criteria, the school needed
to be somewhere in Nevada, or somewhere in the Pacific Ocean. For
the record, the vector did eventually land me at University of
Nevada, Las Vegas.
But looking back now, I realize that I did very little in the way
of research then. I did not know the right questions to ask, much
less whom to ask them to. You already have the resources, but you
have to do the legwork. Parents are a good start. Assess their
expectations, particularly how much they expect to pay. Then set
that information aside and start researching specific schools. You
should use your guidance counselor as a resource, but do not forget
the internet. And pay the campus a visit during the school year.
The only time it does not pay to do the research is when you
already know exactly where you want to go, whether it is your only
choice, or your parent’s alma mater, or you are going locally. If
you do not know, it is always a good idea to arm yourself with as
much information as you can. Otherwise you might end up at a
university in the Pacific Ocean.
2. Rankings Are Relative
Any college guide would have you believe that their publication,
and only theirs, really has the definitive information on a wide
swath of criteria to pick a college. Do not believe it. There are
two things at stake here to keep in mind. Every college guide has a
bias. And college rankings are dependent on that bias.
Take the Harvard University of college guides, U.S. News and
World Report as an example. What’s the bias? U.S. News
wants to be an elite college guide, the cream of the crop. That
means their ranking formula has to be the most complicated, has to
utilize the most criteria and they have to devote a whole lot of
space to the country’s elite universities. Which is great if you
plan on choosing a school based on reputation. But there are other
factors to consider.
It is appropriate, a great idea even, to pick up a college guide
and review the entry on some of your school choices. Better yet, do
it online. Most guides have an online component, and so what if you
have to register to view it. You are going to spread your name
around liberally during the application process anyway.
3. It is not the size of
the school but the number of kids that live there that counts
Let me tell you a little trick when you examine your school’s
size. Look strictly at its percentage of students that live on
campus. Particularly when you are starting out as a first-year
student, you spend a whole lot of time on campus, and most schools
require you to live there at least through your first year. The
number of students that live on campus has a lot to do with the kind
of experience you will have.
I went to UNLV which only had an on-campus population of a little
over 1,000 students. That is a relatively small population of
students to live among. I looked at the overall campus population,
over 20,000 students, and assumed I would be interacting with a
diverse group. But the truth was, my social and educational circles
were usually limited to the 1,000. Whichever population size you
prefer, just remember that commuters are usually significantly less
engaged in campus activities; clubs, intramural sports, and social
nights.
4. Cost is a hill, not a
mountain
If you want to go to college, prepare to take out loans to pay
for it. If your parents can afford it and are willing to pay, you
are lucky. For everyone else, once you know the school you want to
go to, just go. The cost of education is exorbitant and steadily
rising. There is no way around it.
Parents look at debt warily, and their opinion is to be
respected. But when it comes to picking a college, cost should not
be the determining factor. Think of your education loans as an
investment in your future. Whatever you invest now compounds in your
skill set, your experience and the assets that you develop for
furthering your future earning potential.
Picking a college is a process, but it should not be an
overwhelming one. Make a list of criteria that are important to you
and take that with you on your search. It is indisputably a big deal
to choose a college for yourself, but the process has never been
easier. Do not let anyone tell you otherwise.
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Andrew Marx is a prolific author and his expertise includes the
practical and legal aspects of personal finance and higher
education. His body of work is published at
http://www.smartremarx.com/
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