What College Should I Go to
If you find yourself asking “what college should I go to?”, we have created a list of the most critical factors to consider when making your decision.
What College Should I Go to
The best colleges are determined by students’ rights and interests. Listen to your heart and reconsider which profession is best for you.
Following that, you must create a list of colleges that will match your location, your requests for grants, and major opportunities for a flourishing career.
Read Also:
- How Long to Get a Master’s Degree?
- What can you do with a Communications Degree?
- How Long Does it Take to Get a Business Degree?
Things to Consider when Determining what College to Go to
When you have a quiz of this nature lurking on your mind, there are certain things you would need to consider.
Below are things to take into consideration when choosing a college to attain:
Location
Most students start their college search by deciding whether or not location matters.
Knowing if you want to live close to home, move to another state, or study in a particular environment will help narrow your list.
Keep the weather in mind as well.
Proximity to Home
If you want to live near or at home, you will need to choose a college within a reasonable distance.
Use the National Center for Education Statistics search tool to help.
Simply put in your zip code, choose within how many miles, and then select “college” on the left.
Academic Programs
Make sure the colleges you look at offer your major. If you are undecided, choose a school that has majors you find interesting.
Transferring due to a change of major can end up costing a lot of money.
Check schools’ websites to see what majors they offer or use Petersons’ search engine to browse for schools by major.
Select your desired major and it compiles a list of schools offering that major. Filter results by things like program length, program type (online vs. traditional), state, school size, and degree type.
Read Further
It even lets you narrow results based on your GPA, SAT scores, ACT scores, and admission difficulty.
Once you narrow down your list, look at which schools have the best programs.
Compare their faculty’s qualifications, the coursework offered their research or internship opportunities, and their alumni’s careers.
Attending a school that has up-to-date coursework in your field, strong alumni ties, and a well-known program will make finding a job post-graduation a lot easier.
Retention Rates
The retention rate looks at the percentage of students who return as sophomores. On average, 61% of freshmen return to their school in the fall.
The higher the school’s retention rate, the more likely you will be to stay for your next year.
This means you will keep your scholarships, keep all of your credits, and stay on track for graduation.
Schools with low acceptance rates have much higher retention rates on average. Most Ivy League schools boast a 97%-99% retention rate.
Read Further
Many factors influence the retention rate. A low percentage can indicate that a college does not meet student’s expectations.
Students might have one impression of a school based on college visits and then get there and feel disappointed.
Academics also play a part. Students might leave because they do not feel challenged or they do not feel supported if they need extra help.
Sports
If you are a sports fan or potential college athlete, search for schools based on sports. Use the NCAA online directory to sort out schools based on division, location, and sport.
This tool is also great for students hoping to join a marching band, become a cheerleader, or major in sports medicine or broadcasting.
Read Also:
After considering everything mentioned above, you should be closer to answering the question, “what college should I attend?”
We believe the information above was useful. Please, kindly share this content on all the available social media platforms
CSN Team.