DEFINE WHAT’S IMPORTANT TO YOU

Before you start comparing college attributes, look at your own needs and identify non-negotiables. For example, do you need to study in a school that’s near your home? Do you prefer staying in the city or a quiet university town? Are you more comfortable with small classes and close ties with your classmates and teachers or are you challenged by a highly competitive environment? Nowadays experience abroad is highly appreciated. You can do an exchange semester abroad, Volunteer vacation in New Zealand, improve your language skills in a language school in Spain (car hire Malaga) , do an internship abroad etc..Through this you will also enhance your future career opportunities (Franzosischkurse in Montpellier)

If you’re not sure what you want, try to look at your high school experiences for situations where you felt most comfortable and excited to learn. Did you enjoy working closely with other people on a very creative project? Then you may want a school that emphasizes group projects rather than research papers and written exams. Do you prefer learning about a lot of different things or do you want to focus on your area of specialization? That should influence whether or not you want a college with a liberal arts approach.

MAKING A LIST OF SCHOOLS

After identifying what’s important to you, start looking at different universities and colleges. You can check out different websites and print out their brochures, or you can get materials from your high school guidance counselor. She can also help you to evaluate the different universities, or refer you to a school that specializes in your desired course.

SCHEDULING CAMPUS TOURS

It’s very important that you actually visit the campus of the school you plan to study in. After all, the pictures on the website can be deceiving, and you want to see how “big” the classrooms really are, or if those lush looking gardens sprawl over several hectares or are actually a small plot of flowers in the middle of cemented grounds.

While you’re at the campus, grab the opportunity to chat with the students and teachers. Drop by the admissions and financial aid offices so you can ask as many questions as you like and maybe even get additional brochures and documents. You can also sit in some of the classes to get a feel of the teaching style. You may want to even taste the food in the college cafeteria!

Take notes and pictures. With all the campus tours that you’ll be attending, you’re bound to be overwhelmed by information (or worse, mix them up!). To organize your search, buy an expandable folder with several dividers and sort your material per school.

COMPARING SCHOOLS

Once you’ve personally seen the campuses on your list, it’s time to start weighing your options and eventually paring down your selection to the top five or six. You can compare them according to: curriculum, campus environment, tuition and miscellaneous costs, and campus safety.

APPLYING TO SCHOOLS

Once you’ve made your short list the next step is to apply. Follow the instructions on the application forms very carefully and don’t cram your essay. Give yourself time to review your application for any errors. But don’t dawdle so long that you miss the deadline! It’s very important to find out what the deadlines of application are. It’s best to mail everything before the winter break of your senior year.

CHOOSING THE SCHOOL

If you were granted admission in more than one school (lucky you!) then you’ll have to choose which one to attend. Usually the acceptance letters pour in during March or April, especially if you applied for financial aid. Compare the award offers, which will fluctuate depending on your own qualifications and the cost of going to that school. Confused about their admission information? Call them or email them to clarify—better to be safe than sorry! Out of courtesy, it’s necessary to send a letter declining admission to the other schools. Selecting the right college is critical because you will be spending the next four or more years of your life there. If you follow the above-mentioned steps, you will be able to make an informed decision about which school you would like to attend.

Your choice of college should not be made lightly. Not only will you be spending at least four years of your life there, the quality of education or even the name of the school will affect your career path. If you choose the wrong college, one that doesn’t fit your needs or your personality, you may even end up quitting. Here are some of the worst reasons to choose a college.

Your boyfriend/girlfriend is going there

So he or she is the love of your life now, but even if you do decide to follow him or her “for the sake of true love” you have no guarantees that the relationship will last beyond the first semester. You’re going to meet a lot of people in college. You don’t want to be tied down, nor do you want to make any promises you’re not able to keep.

Furthermore, many people see that their personality or perspective of life completely changes when they’re in college. It’s highly possible for you to discover that you are no longer compatible.

It’s a party school

You’re not going to have much time for partying, at least not if you plan to take your studies seriously. If you want to get good grades, make good connections, or even just get the most out of your education and the opportunities it presents, then partying should be the last of your priorities.

You saw a lot of cute guys/girls during your campus visit

Don’t treat your college or university as you would a bar. You’re not there to scope out the opposite sex and think of ways to land a good date. If you’re just after the opportunity to flirt, stay home and surf the dating sites. It’ll be a lot cheaper than spending thousands of dollars on a college degree.

It has a good football team

This is just lame. Unless you’re going to go on a sports scholarship, you shouldn’t care whether the school excels on the courts or the field. What matters is what goes on in the classroom, because that’s where you learn and get the network and experience to make it in the big world.

It was highly recommended by your guidance counselor

While your guidance counselor can give you many suggestions, you should consider her opinion along with the stuff you hear about on the web, and what you saw for yourself during your campus tour.

The campus tour is one of the most important elements of choosing a college. It will give you an idea of whether a school is suited to your learning style, personality, and general career goals. Here are some ways to make the most out of your campus tour.

Visit the schools you are most interested in

You can’t go to each and every school on your list, maybe due to a tight schedule or the cost of airfare. So look at your list of colleges and universities and pick those you know you have a high chance of getting into, and would probably like to join if you were accepted. If it’s extremely difficult to choose, then pick those that are very different from the other. For example, visit a college in a city and one in a small community, and one with a large student population and one that likes to keep its classes small. That way you get a feel for different kinds of schools and which environment you’d probably be happiest in.

Read up on the school history and background

The web is a wealth of information. Google the school to find out its history, the perception of the public of its reputation, the type of classes it offers and the number of students per class. In other words you can find out a lot even without leaving your home. That way, when you visit the school, you know what questions to ask.

Organize your research

You’ll be looking at a lot of schools, and it’s best to keep all the data in one place. Keep all brochures in a folder and print out the websites you visit so you can file all information about one school in one place. When you go on a campus tour, bring that file so you can jot down notes. That way it’s easier to compare the schools: all the data is at your fingertips.

Talk to the people on the campus

Try to meet as many people as you can from different sectors of that school community: students, teachers, admission officers, financial aid officers. Students will be very honest about their opinions since they aren’t employees of the school.