The applicant needs to decide which factors are most important to him or her. Each applicant is an individual and at the end of the day it is about determining the best fit and finding it.
Overall, the most important thing to remember is that you want to find the best fit for the student. Specifically, that includes considerations of cost, academic program, the make-up of the student body, the size of the school and the academic opportunities t that result. Too, things like geography, distance from home, and co-curriculars and the social life, not to mention freshmen retention rates and graduate school are all relevant considerations, and yet for all the things that can be listed, oftentimes it comes down to a feel, a comfort level and that is part of why it is so important to visit, if at all possible, prior to making the decision.
Is the school a good match for you, personally and academically? Only you can know what you need in a school and what matters to you most. Location, cost, academic programs, social life, sports–any or all of these might have a major influence on your choices.
Can you imagine yourself being happy there for four years? That is the first question you should ask. Can you see yourself making friends, taking great classes, getting involved in amazing activities? Can you see yourself as part of the community? What does the college do to help freshmen get involved and connected? What does it do to help you progress all four years? These and many other questions can help kids decide. VISITING is key as it helps kids SEE. Also finances often play a deciding factor. Is one school offering you so much more financially that it becomes your top choice?
The most important factor in choosing a college is whether or not the college has your chosen program of study. You also have to choose a school where you will be successful and enjoy yourself. Cost, distance from home, size, extra curricular, and living accommodations are also factors that you should consider. Weighing out the advantages and disadvantages will be important to help you make your final decision.
Some important factors to consider when choosing a college should be:
Whatever are the most important factors for you. Make a list of what you want a college to have. Make a list of what you think would be an extra if a college offered. Then, look at your list of schools and check those things off. How well does the school match up with your wants and needs? Very simple.
Students should focus on finding the college that fits them the best instead of trying to fit themselves to a college. To find the best fit, students need to prioritize and determine the ideal attributes they seek in the ideal campus. In most cases, some of the more easily qualifiable things to consider are the advertised educational philosophy of the campus, retention/graduation rates, location, student to professor ratio, average class sizes, unique opportunities both in and out of the classroom, cost (including not only cost of attendance but also average financial aid packages/percentage of students receiving various types of aid), placement rates of recent graduates, majors/minors (including course of study guides and flexibility/restrictions), and things that give a particular campus its “flavor” (athletics/band programs/student support systems/greek system/etc.). Ultimately, students who can define what it is they seek in an ideal college will find that finding that college is easier than they thought.
Students should focus on finding the college that fits them the best instead trying to fit themselves to a college. To find the best fit, students need to prioritize and determine the ideal attributes they seek in the ideal campus. In most cases, some of the more easily qualifiable things to consider are the advertised educational philosophy of the campus, retention/graduation rates, location, student to professor ratio, average class sizes, unique opportunities both in and out of the classroom, cost (including not only cost of attendance but also average financial aid packages/percentage of students receiving various types of aid), placement rates of recent graduates, majors/minors (including course of study guides and flexibility/restrictions), and things that give a particular campus its “flavor” (athletics/band programs/student support systems/greek system/etc.). Ultimately, students who can define what it is they seek in an ideal college will find that finding that college is easier than they thought.
Two Top Factors for Choosing a College:
Students should focus on finding the college that fits them the best instead of trying to fit themselves to a college. To find the best fit, students need to prioritize and determine the ideal attributes they seek in the ideal campus for them. In most cases, some of the more easily qualifiable things to consider are the advertised educational philosophy of the campus, retention/graduation rates, location, student to professor ratio, average class sizes, unique opportunities both in and out of the classroom, cost (including not only cost of attendance but also average financial aid packages/percentage of students receiving various types of aid), placement rates of recent graduates, majors/minors (including course of study guides and flexibility/restrictions), and things that give a particular campus its “flavor” (athletics/band programs/student support systems/greek system/etc.). Ultimately, students who can define what it is they seek in an ideal college will find that finding that college is easier than they thought.
All students should spend time self-reflecting during the college search in order to identify great college matches. Ultimately, students need to know: who am I? what are my goals? Below are some questions that help me propose college matches for students; they might help you to narrow your focus. What class/teacher/book challenged you? How do you learn? What do you dream about? What do you wish you had more time to spend on?
The two most important factors are the fit between the student and the University and the department that houses the student’s intended major. First, College visits are so vital because the student must feel a sense of belonging at their university. Many studies have shown that retention rates are strongly influenced by how many quality connections students make on campus. Your college will be your home for years and you want to feel like you belong there. The second most important factor is the department that the student will earn their degree from. A college may have a great reputation but it’s the department that students should take a hard look at. Try to identify which major you will be pursuing before you choose your college and do some research on their faculty and reputation in the field. In the long run the reputation of the department you graduate from may mean more to employers than your College Mascot.
Curriculum & a backup if you change your direction; dietary needs met, campus location desirability, affordability is last.
Although each student probably has a different list of criteria for selecting a college, there are certain areas which come up frequently: 1. Can you afford the school? 2. Does the school have the major or the program you’re currently interested in? 3. Is the school’s location appealing or practical? 4, What is the school’s reputation and how good are your job prospects if you graduate from the school? 5. Are students overall satisfied with the school (check out the retention and graduation rates) 6. Does the school have a religious orientation that you’re comfortable or uncomfortable with? 7. And if you’re at the beginning of the admissions process, how easy or difficult will it be for you to be accepted to the school?
Who are you? What are you looking for in a school? What do you like and where do you like living? What are your goals, interests, talents, desires?
The factors that are important in selecting a college depend on what is important to you. Some typical factors (in no particular order) are: – Academics – Majors offered – Facilities (e.g., labs, libraries) – Availability of Internships or co-op opportunities – Job placement of graduates – Per cent of students who continue on to graduate school – Study abroad opportunities – How hard it is to get admitted – Size – Location – Distance from Home – Cost – Availability of financial aid – Religious or political influence – Ethnicity of the student body – Gender mix of the school – Greek life – Safety – Whether students commute or live on campus – Extracurricular activities – Spectator sports
The size of the college or university – some student like a small enclosed campus, where other prefer a large school or one that has buildings throughout the city.
A number of factors should be considered in choosing a college. First, of course, would be the quality of the program(s) which you’re interested in studying. Do graduates have success in finding employment or going on to graduate school? Financial factors should, of course, be considered – What is the tuition? What kinds of financial assistance are available. Other factors to consider are: the kind of environment you prefer – rural, suburban, urban; whether you’d rather be on a self-contained campus or one which is integrated into a city; the social culture of the institution; the size of the student body; average class size; the kinds of extracurricular activities available – music, sports, etc.; whether the school has a strong religious orientation. Even the prevailing climate in the areas at which you’re looking should be considered. It would be a good idea to carefully think about what is important to you, what would make you feel happy and enjoy your days in an educational environment, and then consider those aspects when choosing a college.
A successful student is a happy student and you need to invest some thought in the factors that will help you to succeed at college. As you research colleges you should think about factors as diverse as academic fit, geographic and cultural aspects, ease in traveling to the campus, financial requirements, typical class size, student/faculty ratio and campus culture.
This is a very important question that should be different for most students. You obviously can start with location (close to home or far way), do you want a school in the city or suburbs, number of students (small or big school or is class size important), Christian vs. Non-Christian, Cost or the major you are interested in pursuing among others.
Choosing a college is such a personal experience. It can be challenging to not succumb to the influences of family/friends, marketing tactics and financial factors. It is important to determine that the school offers the course of study that interests you. It is equally critical that you feel good about the extracurriculars as well. Distance from home, size of school, location of the campus, and financial aid are all valid points to weigh in the decision making process.
10 good reasons to choose a college
If the school is a good fit academically and socially
Location. Make sure your preference of school location will offer academic advantage otherwise, it will not benefit you in the long run.
Students and their families frequently focus on admission to brand name colleges and universities rather than schools that meet academic and personal needs. My role is to guide students and their families through the challenges of preparing for and gaining admission to a college or university that will support their academic, social and personal goals. As an Educational Consultant my objective is to simplify the college search process and maximize educational opportunities. I assist families in identifying a student’s strengths, interests, talents and goals to identify a range of colleges most appropriate for their child. By educating families about the range of educational options available, families learn that there are many colleges which will offer an excellent academic and extracurricular experience for their child.
Download Collegeapp if you have an iPhone, iPad or iPod touch. It’s a free app that enables students to create an avatar using fit attributes such as size, location, Greek life, geography, climate, cost and selectivity. These are among some of the most important fit factors.
The best way to determine what factors will be important considerations is to begin by visiting a variety of college campuses. Students who visit a broad range of schools are able to tease out aspects of campuses that appeal to them. This is the process of learning the elements of a good fit school. Students should feel good on campus. A campus should be able to stretch the student to enable growth while providing comfort. The three elements of fit are academic, social and financial. A good fit will encompass all three components.
Here is my video response to the question.
Do they have the program(s) and courses you want to study? the activities you’d like to participate in? the support you need – academically, socially, and in the areas of your interests? Can you afford it (check out financial aid)? Will you be happy there?
When considering colleges, do the homework! One does not buy a house or a car, which carry comparable value, without weighing the pros and cons. As much as students and families want to send their progeny to the best school, “best” is a relative concept. If you struggled in the “regular” courses and nose-dived in honors or AP courses, then highly selective college settings may not be your “best” fit.
When choosing a college some important factors that you should consider are:
Choosing a college should be a reflection of who you are and what you hope to become. In a way, the real purpose of college should expand beyond receiving a quality education, but also growing as a person and a leader. Hence, the most important factors in choosing a college depend on your own interests, values, goals, beliefs, views, strengths, and weaknesses. I could list the usual suspects such as graduation rate, diversity, class size, reputation, professors, extracurricular activities, etc. However, what you might deem as a top priority someone else might not. Also, the tradeoffs among the different factors that each individual is willing to make may vary.
students shall understand what each college has to offer and what they are looking for. many colleges will not work for students trying to find answers for four years. rention rate and career placement are the two most important facts for many students.
Would you be happy there…that is the only question.
This is a good question, but one that only you can answer. The very first thing you should do is to have a good look at yourself and decide what’s important to you in choosing a college. What characteristics does a college need to have in order to be interesting to you? Is class size important? Is it important for professors to teach you in your first year? Is graduation rate important? Retention rate? Study abroad? Scholarships or other financial aid? Ranking? Fame? Community atmosphere? You can’t do good shopping unless you know what you’re shopping for.
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