Choosing a 4 year College

Like all decisions, the college you choose is important. Although one item may not persuade you to decide on a particular college, one thing on the list may prevent you from applying. Here is a list of things you should keep in mind:

Costs. The amount of financial aid you receive may be a deciding factor. You must consider the total cost of room and board, tuition, and travel. If you cannot afford the expenses of college on your own, you may want to consider taking out loans or finding other sources of financing such as scholarships or grants. Another option may be to choose a more affordable school.
Remember: Getting a degree and excelling in your course of study is more important than the name of your school. If you drop out of Harvard because you can’t afford it, you are left without a degree and a mountain of debt.

Public versus Private. There are advantages and disadvantages to both. A public school will afford you low in state tuition rates. Along with that comes larger class sizes and perhaps les individual attention. Private schools are considerably more expensive, but you pay for smaller class size and more individualized attention. Private schools also have more grant money to disburse. Of course public schools have some small classes and private schools have large classes. It is up to you to weigh the importance of the issues.

Reputation. Think not just of the recognition of the name of the school, but whether the particular school has a strong curriculum in your choice major. Compare courses offered within your major between several schools. If you find an abundance of classes that interest you, that should hold precedent over the name of the school.

Faculty. Qualified and renowned professors are things to consider. Good schools whether public or private will have good professors. Do some research about the good professors in your particular major as this may be the deciding factor over which school you choose.

Location. Your living conditions will have a direct impact on how much you enjoy college. Part of going to college is learning to adapt to new surroundings, but it doesn’t mean being miserable in a situation you dislike. If living in a big city is important to you, don’t apply to a campus located in a small town. If you don’t want to live in a big city, limit your applications to cities and towns you would prefer to live.

Social Life. When transferring to a four year university from a community college, the advantage is that life on campus will likely be amplified. From fraternities and sororities to athletics and the school spirit that comes with it. This will not always be the case especially if you attend a smaller university.

Diversity. Campus diversity is important not only to colleges, but also to prospective students. If having students of your particular background or ethnicity is vital to your college experience, be sure to do some research into the composition of the student body.

Housing. Since two year colleges generally don’t have dormitories, housing is limited to living at home or an apartment nearby. Going to a four year university you have some more options. You can choose to live in the dormitories or some schools may have campus apartments for older and transfer students. Financially, when choosing a college you must consider how much it will cost especially if you’re moving far from home.

Safety. Campus safety is extremely important. You can research campus safety on each college website as they are required to give statistics of crimes committed on campus. You must also consider the safety of the neighborhood surrounding the college. Many schools may have a safe atmosphere on campus but you may be less inclined to walk in the residential area surrounding the college. Be sure to know what the neighborhood is like and act accordingly.

Degrees offered. By the time you transfer, you should be nearly certain what your major is. This may sound easy, but if the school doesn’t offer the major you plan to study, the school is not for you, no matter how much you like everything else. Only consider schools that offer what you plan to study.

recommended reading: Fiske Guide to Colleges 2007

The Best 361 Colleges, 2007 Edition