We often hear younger students naming the prestigious colleges they want to attend--UCLA, Stanford, Harvard, etc. It isn’t until their Junior or Senior year of high school that students start to realize colleges are extremely nuanced. Every college has its unique strengths and weaknesses. Here are five of the most important factors to take into consideration when choosing the best college that suits you and your future.
1. Degree Programs/Majors
One of the most important factors to consider is the degree or majors offered at a university. Believe it or not, not all universities offer every field of study that you might end up being interested in. While most large universities will cover general majors, specific programs such as communication or media studies might not be well-developed or even offered. Students should thoroughly research how specialized each program is at the universities they are interested in. For example, a student interested in studying Business may want to opt for USC over UCLA even though the universities are equally prestigious. The earlier students begin exploring their interests and deciding their career goals, the more time they have to research which universities have the programs best specialized for them!
2. Affordability
College is expensive, so finance is a huge determining factor for most students when considering which college to apply for. While much of college financing is dependent on your own financial circumstances, different colleges have different financial opportunities as well. Is the school you’re interested in public or private? The National Center for Education Statistics states that private schools usually cost $25,000/yr more than public schools. Is the university you’re considering in-state or out-of-state? In-state public universities are usually less expensive than out-of-state public universities. There are many different areas you should research when considering the affordability of a college: financial aid opportunities, scholarship opportunities, state-wide grants, housing prices, and living expenses. These are all factors to consider when it comes to college affordability, so research your university’s financial opportunities thoroughly.
3. Location & Environment
Location plays a big part in determining a university’s affordability, but location also matters because of its environment. Do you prefer an urban or a suburban lifestyle? Do you prefer a university that is close to home or further away? Most colleges offer tours of their university for you to experience their lifestyle before applying or accepting, and many colleges even offer virtual tours. If you enjoy the flexibility of online learning, you could apply for an entirely virtual undergraduate program! If you want to expand your perspective of the world, you could consider studying internationally or finding a university with a strong study abroad program. Every university has its own unique culture, and every student has his or her own location preferences, so we recommend exploring each university’s student life pages or reaching out to students who attend those universities to best understand whether or not the environment is right for you.
4. Size & Demographic
Two more factors that play into a university’s unique culture are classroom size and demographic. Different students learn best in different environments; some students learn best in large lectures with hundreds of students, some learn best in small intimate classrooms, and some learn best according to sizes in between. Many students value cultural diversity in the classroom as well. Classroom size and demographic can play a big role in the students’ sense of belonging. The National Center for Education Statistics website is a great resource to research each university’s unique enrollment, demographic, and more.
5. Prestige
Going to a prestigious university has its benefits, especially in competitive fields like business and STEM. A university’s reputation and alumni network may be exceptionally useful in competitive industries when trying to forward your career. If an industry is particularly difficult to get into, attending a prestigious university can become a label of credibility that stands out to employers. With that said, we recommend students understand how prestige is oftentimes an overrated factor in deciding what college to go to. Prestige is nice, but it’s not the only thing that college can offer you. If you are in a prestigious university at a location you despise and in student debt way over your head, prestige will do little to help you feel better.
Find Which Factors YOU Value!
All of the factors we mentioned are important, but only you can decide which ones you value the most. A student who prefers to be close to home might place more emphasis on location than someone who values classroom size. Some students might value prestige over all else, whereas others might value a university’s selection/specialization of majors instead. You know your own unique circumstances and preferences the best, so take those into consideration when choosing which colleges to apply to or which colleges to accept!
About the Author:
Allan Han, MA is a writer and educator with over six years of teaching experience in teaching K-12 students fundamental English, fundamental Math, SAT writing, and high school literature. He received his Master's Degree in English Instruction at NYU and formerly taught in LaGuardia High School in the city of New York.