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Choosing the right schoolJun 13 '01 Write an essay on this topic.The Bottom Line Just a couple of ideas to keep in mind when choosing colleges, applying, visiting and deciding. What I'm about to say in the next couple of paragraphs, I wish someone had said to me. I'm going to give a couple of key factors you should consider when choosing the right college/university for you. Greek Life Regardless if you're "Let's go Greek!" or "Greek..huh?", it's important to know how much Greek life will influence and dominate the school. How much of the Greek system over the rest of the school can make or break the overall school feeling. If you're very anti-Greek, you don't want to end up at a school where there's a plethora of fraternities and sororities. Make sure that the overall school population isn't Greek...if you're gungho for Greek, then you'll want a school that has a good Greek system. Size matters I go to a small school...it's larger than my high school but 2700 is not considered big. Size will definitely be a factor in your choice of schools. I myself wanted a smaller school because I wanted a small student to faculty ratio and I didn't want to feel like a number. I wanted to feel like a student. Yet I didn't want to know everyone which is why my school was perfect. This case might be different for everyone. You might like the fact of anonmity or having lots of people to meet and that's certainly an option. Location, Location, Location Where your school is located is key. For instance, homesickness? If you're going across the country, most likely you'll be coming home for holidays only. This might be important for some. Also, if you're used to sun twelve months out of the year and end up going to school in Minnesota...be prepared. I'm from California and went to school in Washington. The threat of 90 straight days of rain was depressing but luckily we had a dry year. Also, the attitude to the location of the school is important. If you're a west coaster and travel east, be prepared for coast shock. Same if you go to school in the South for values are different. Along with location is the town that your school is in. Getting off campus is essential but you don't want to get off campus and find one or two stores...unless that's your schtick. Hopefully the town surrounding your campus has fun stuff to do and is interesting. Off campus activities are just as important as on campus activities. Diversity For me, racial diversity is important. That and the diversity in genres of people. If anything, I consider myself a laid back preppy person. I visited a school where they were pretty much all pot smokers. Not my type of people really. And while I'm open to new people, I need to feel some levels of common. Racial diversity is important as well since I'm asian. I don't want to feel like the only minority. Classes, Programs and Majors A lot of students go into college thinking they know what they want to major in. Myself included. They'll probably change. Myself included. I should have spent a little more researching into the Communications department at my school because I would have found out that they teach the theory of communications not journalisim and advertising...which is what I was expecting. Luckily I found a great advisor and a great flexible major. But doing a little research into the fields of your interest will prove to be important. Even if you don't know what you want to major in but have an idea of what you like, do a little reading and it will prove to be benefical. Gut Feeling The best thing that you can do is visit the schools before you apply or once you've been accepted. Because being on the campus will give the best overall impression. You might want to consider staying overnight. For me, I was able to tell within just a campus tour and interview. But do visit the campus because that's the only way you'll be able to tell and get that "gut feeling" of yes or no. So that's my advice pre-College. Take the initiative before you apply. After all, this is where you'll be going for four -or maybe more or less -years. For some, you might transfer, but for most, this decision is important...so take the time to research. Good luck!  |
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