Some of you are going to be faced with the difficult decision of picking your college or university pretty soon. This decision is very important and you want to weigh in all of the factors that affect this decisions. Lets face it, this is your future. The first big choice you have to make a make as an adult. So make it wisely.
Here are some things you want to consider when choosing a college or university:
1) Look at your list of potential colleges and find the colleges that have the program or major that you are interested in. You want to narrow your list down to the schools that have the BEST program that suit your interests. There are many resources you can find online that show college rankings by major.
2) Be realistic about the colleges you apply to. Don't just apply to the one school that you REALLY want to go to. Apply for a bunch of back up schools in case you change your mind or aren't accepted into the one you want to get into. Most people can't expect to get into the college they want to. So to be safe, apply to several schools that you're interested in.
3) Tuition. When applying at colleges check out the costs of going there such as tuition and housing. Whether you're paying for school or your parents are, check the costs of each school before you commit to one. Now you shouldn't base your decision off costs alone, but you need to be aware of what you're getting yourself into. Don't let high tuition discourage you, just make sure you know how much to expect to be paying each semester.
4) It's smart to visit your top few schools' campuses before you make your big decision. Just because one school seems the best for you does not mean you should go there. Check out the campus and where you'll be living before you make your final decision. Campus life is very important in the college experience. Regardless of how much your school fits your needs, if you don't like your living arrangements and the campus then you will not enjoy your first semester.
