10 Things to Consider When Choosing a College: Told by a College Student | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Student Life

10 Things to Consider When Choosing a College: Told by a College Student

If you are in the stage of choosing the right university for you, follow these 10 tips to avoid making the wrong choice

140
10 Things to Consider When Choosing a College: Told by a College Student
Odyssey

Every college student has pros and cons about the university they attend. Some even transfer because they are not happy with the place they chose. To avoid this problem, here are some things to consider before making your final decision from the point of view of a college student:

1. Campus Size

If you are more of a quiet person that keeps to yourself, a big campus may not be the one for you. Or it may be! On a bigger campus, there are more people of which maybe a few of them will be a perfect match for a best friend, whereas on a smaller campus there are less people to find your perfect match from. Also, on a bigger campus it is easier to get lost, but there are also more things to do. Also, if you prefer smaller classes, a smaller campus is more likely to provide you with smaller classes and more personal time with your professors should you need help.

2. Distance from Home/personal relationships

Trying to maintain relationships with family and friends/significant other can be difficult with distance, especially with the work load of college. If you are willing to let your relationships take the back seat to your work, a bigger distance may be right for you. But if you want to maintain the closeness you currently have, you may want to consider a closer campus. Also, if you are not ready to be 100% on your own, a smaller distance would be the best option.

3. Majors and Minors

If you know what you want your specific major to be, it is important to not only choose a school that offers your specific major, but to choose a school that is strong in your major.

4. Student Life

If you are the type of person that enjoys social gatherings, research the school's student life. For example, research the different clubs, Greek life, and athletics offered on campus.

5. Price

If you know that you cannot afford a highly priced college, than try to find a cheaper school that would offer you financial aid and scholarships. Or look for different programs, such as attending a two-year school and then transferring to a four-year school. Also, research financial aid and scholarship options.

6. Alumni Success

Research your schools' alumni success. This information may be vital when deciding on a school. Research things such as graduation rate, job rate, and how long after graduation do the majority of the graduating students become employed.

7. Environment

If you are the type of person that dislikes cities, choosing a college in/near the city would not be a good ides. Research the area that surrounds the school, not only the city/town it is in, but also the surrounding cities. Also, research crime rates in the area within the university.

8. Admissions

It is important to research the admissions rate and criteria so that you know the odds of you getting into the school. If the criteria describes the student as needing a 4.0 GPA and your GPA is a 2.5, I would not recommend applying.

9. School Spirit

You need to know how much school spirit is shown by the student body. Typically schools that show a lot of school spirit are universities that are known for sports, such as Ohio State University. If you are not THAT big into school spirit than I would shy away from these types of schools.

10. Programs Offered

You need to ask yourself what you want to do while in college. If you want to study abroad, or study a new language, you need to look into what types of programs they offer. Also, there are many programs offered in universities depending on major that might interest you. Research the different programs offered by your school.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Featured

12 Midnight NYE: Fun Ideas!

This isn't just for the single Pringles out there either, folks

13994
Friends celebrating the New Years!
StableDiffusion

When the clock strikes twelve midnight on New Year's Eve, do you ever find yourself lost regarding what to do during that big moment? It's a very important moment. It is the first moment of the New Year, doesn't it seem like you should be doing something grand, something meaningful, something spontaneous? Sure, many decide to spend the moment on the lips of another, but what good is that? Take a look at these other suggestions on how to ring in the New Year that are much more spectacular and exciting than a simple little kiss.

Keep Reading...Show less
piano
Digital Trends

I am very serious about the Christmas season. It's one of my favorite things, and I love it all from gift-giving to baking to the decorations, but I especially love Christmas music. Here are 11 songs you should consider adding to your Christmas playlists.

Keep Reading...Show less
campus
CampusExplorer

New year, new semester, not the same old thing. This semester will be a semester to redeem all the mistakes made in the previous five months.

1. I will wake up (sorta) on time for class.

Let's face it, last semester you woke up with enough time to brush your teeth and get to class and even then you were about 10 minutes late and rollin' in with some pretty unfortunate bed head. This semester we will set our alarms, wake up with time to get ready, and get to class on time!

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

The 5 Painfully True Stages Of Camping Out At The Library

For those long nights that turn into mornings when the struggle is real.

2761
woman reading a book while sitting on black leather 3-seat couch
Photo by Seven Shooter on Unsplash

And so it begins.

1. Walk in motivated and ready to rock

Camping out at the library is not for the faint of heart. You need to go in as a warrior. You usually have brought supplies (laptop, chargers, and textbooks) and sustenance (water, snacks, and blanket/sweatpants) since the battle will be for an undetermined length of time. Perhaps it is one assignment or perhaps it's four. You are motivated and prepared; you don’t doubt the assignment(s) will take time, but you know it couldn’t be that long.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

The 14 Stages Of The Last Week Of Class

You need sleep, but also have 13 things due in the span of 4 days.

1672
black marker on notebook

December... it's full of finals, due dates, Mariah Carey, and the holidays. It's the worst time of the year, but the best because after finals, you get to not think about classes for a month and catch up on all the sleep you lost throughout the semester. But what's worse than finals week is the last week of classes, when all the due dates you've put off can no longer be put off anymore.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments