Academic Rigor
Narrow your field of colleges to those that you will feel academically comfortable at. Get a feel for colleges and their students’ intellectual capacities. You don’t want to stunt your social or emotional growth in a place where no one can hold a conversation with you, or where you have to spend every waking moment at the library.
Atmosphere
Academics is the purpose of colleges, but you will not get the most of your academic experience at the wrong school, no matter how strong of a program you’ve chosen. This means that when you’re choosing among colleges, it is absolutely imperative that you visit them before settling on one. When visiting a school, you will have a gut reaction based on environment, overall student friendliness and certain X-factors that only you will be able to discern. Trust that gut instinct. No matter how strong a school is in your intended field, you’ve got to feel at home. Some of the factors that might affect your gut reaction to colleges include:
- Politics
If you’re a conservative thinker, and you’d feel uncomfortable in a liberal atmosphere, do take colleges’ political reputations into account. The inverse is also true. While it’s certainly always beneficial to have eye-opening experiences, a four-year fish-out-of-water experience is not recommended. In either case, opt for colleges known for middle-of-the-road politics. This way, you’ll have the option of experiencing both the new and the familiar.
- Academic Opportunities
At the stage when you’re looking at colleges, it’s very unlikely that you will know what you’ll do with your life. If you can’t say with much conviction what you want to do, it’s best to narrow your field of colleges to those that offer many majors in several academically respected departments. However, if you are quite sure what your future major will be, do your research and find out which colleges are particularly strong in that area. Should you find you’ve changed your mind at the end of your first or second semester, and your college offers nothing else of interest to you, you’re always free to transfer.
- Academic Reputation
Are the colleges you’re considering going to help you meet your future career goals? Will they give you a more competitive resume? Could recommendations from their professors help you get into grad school? Also, think about this: If you’re a student that needs a close relationship with his or her instructors, be careful of colleges with stellar research reputations. Research-oriented professors are usually not as invested in the success of their students as teaching-oriented professors. Find out the real deal from alumni of each of your prospective colleges.
- Social Atmosphere
Some colleges have students who are mostly homebodies, and some colleges are known for nonstop, crazy parties. Find out the scoop before you get there, because this is the next four years we’re talking about! You want to fit in and be able to participate happily, not sit in your dorm and pine for people you can relate to socially.
Think about colleges and the Greek system. Would it be helpful for you to have a ready-made social scene? Or would a dominating fraternity/sorority presence make you uneasy? Many colleges have an involved but unobtrusive Greek system that you can either take or leave comfortably.
- Demographics
This includes racial, gender-oriented, religious and cultural aspects. Are colleges with a certain minority ratio appealing to you? Should you be looking at faith-based colleges, or would you be happier in a more ecumenical environment? These are factors that can directly influence the atmosphere of colleges and impact your entire experience for better or worse.
- Size
This is an important issue. My school was a teeming, rambling city in its own right, and I had total anonymity as a result. No one hounded me for my schoolwork, and no one noticed if I didn’t go to class. I could walk down the street and see hundreds of new faces every day. It was a dream come true for me, and a possible nightmare for somebody else. Colleges can be homier, with very low professor to student ratios. If that’s what you need, make it a priority. Think about the size of the communities your prospective colleges are located in as well. If you need a tight-knit, small-town feel to your community, don’t forget to make that a consideration. The same goes for all you city slickers.
Last word: If you choose among your colleges and find you’ve made a mistake, don’t be disheartened. Reassess your needs, go directly to your academic advisor, and start taking steps to amend the situation. Colleges are meant to be places of enlightenment and fun, so go find the right one for you.
By Nicole Zillmer