Dear Senior,

Well. It’s time to make the big choice: Where to go for college?

Whether you’re choosing between 17 schools or just 2, the decision of where to go for college can be a rough one, and an emotional one. First, take a deep breath and know that wherever you decide to go, you’re going to grow so much as a person. Here are some questions/criteria to help you finally pick a school, or at least narrow it down:

1) Which school(s) have the best degree program for what you want to major in? At the end of the day, getting your degree is why you go to college. The reputation the college has for that degree program can hold a lot of weight when it comes to securing a job in that field. If you’re undecided on what you will major in, it may be best to pick a school that has a wide variety of degree programs or a liberal arts program so that when you do decide, you’ll have a starting point towards earning your degree.

2) Which school(s) offer the most scholarships? College is expensive, so the more scholarships you get, the less debt you’ll have and the happier your future self will be.

3) Which school(s) have the best dorms? If you’ll be living on campus, you want to make sure you’ll be as comfortable as you can be within the context of stereotypical dorm life.

4) Which school(s) have the best atmosphere? If you haven’t done so already or have the opportunity, VISIT the college to get a feel for what it’s like. Talk to some students if possible, they’re going to be more honest than brochures about what going there is really like. Do some research on the type of atmosphere the college has, look at online forums, etc. Social media stalk the college basically.

5) How close it the college to home? Not everyone can go to college out of state and not be miserably homesick. Being homesick affects you, probably more than you’d anticipate. Staying closer to home is also cheaper.

6) What student organizations and groups does the campus have? Are you interested in Greek life? Like sports? What you do in your down time has a large effect on your personal morale. You don’t want to stay stuck in your dorm room every Friday night because there’s nothing to do that interests you.

For example, I’m a fine arts major and not really into sports, so going to a university that's primarily focused on the arts is a much better fit for me than a football-oriented state school would be.

7) What type of class sizes/professor to student ratio does the school(s) typically have? Consider how you learn best. Do you do better in small groups where you can discuss concepts and really get to know your peers? Or do you prefer to be in a large class so you can blend into the crowd, minimize distractions, and focus solely on the lecture? Paying for classes means that you definitely want to minimize the possibility of having to retake a course, so that you don’t have to spend extra money, time, and effort on a class again.

College is a big decision. No matter where you decide to go, college will change you and test you in ways you’ve never been tested before. Although it can seem a bit terrifying, college is a brand new opportunity for you to grow and reinvent yourself. I hope this helps.

From, Someone Who's Been There