Making sure your final college decision is the best fit
You’ve applied and received your acceptances. Now the pressure is all about making your final college commitment. But that one last decision is often just as daunting (or more) than getting through the application process. Because making the right choice for college is all about finding your best fit school, and depends on a variety of priorities that are different for everyone.
But if you’re struggling, we can help. Here is our list of important factors to consider when making your final college commitment:
Choice of majors - Since as many as one-third of students switch majors once they get to college,* we recommend that you pick a college that offers at least two majors of interest, if not three. So if you’ve only considered one program at the colleges in your consideration set, now’s the time to be sure that you pick a school that offers you a couple of fallback majors as well.
Debt load - One of the easiest overriding factors to use in determining which school you will choose is the debt load you’ll take on after school. How much will you make right out of school? Can you afford to live and pay off your debt? This is a definitely a time to get input from an adult, including your parent(s) or guardian(s) and/or school counselor.
Student profile - Do you think you’ll enjoy being with the type of students who currently attend the college? How do you know? A few ways to decide include:
1. Shadow a student on campus (see below.)
2. Ask your admissions counselor to help you connect with a student with your same major.
3. Check out the unofficial social media accounts for the college, including any admitted student social media accounts for your graduation year.
4. Ask about the largest and most active academic and social clubs on campus. Do they interest you?
5. Read through the ratings, forums and comments sections on college review sites such as Niche, StudentsReview and College Confidential.
Curriculum - Read through the required course list for your major. Curriculums for the same major can vary significantly between colleges. Which college offers the set of courses that interests you the most?
Internship and job opportunities - What type of internships and jobs are you looking for? Look into each school’s connections to various career opportunities. Don’t forget to check into where alums land via LinkedIn.
Academic and social activities - Involvement plays a significant role in your college experience. Be sure your college offers several academic and social possibilities that you are interested in pursuing.
Campus visit - If you have not been on campus at your final choices, be sure to schedule a tour, including an overnight stay and class visit. If you haven’t done an overnight stay or class visit, go back for a second time. This will give you a first-hand look at the overall college environment, student body and coursework.
Family or friends nearby - If you’re considering colleges more than a half-day’s drive from home, it’s helpful to have close family or friends on campus, or living nearby. A quick chat with someone who has deeper ties to home can get you through inevitable bouts of homesickness.
Remember, when committing to your college, the most important question you should ask yourself is, “Does this college help me get to where I want to go in life?” Consider the dreams you have for your future and compare them to the opportunities above that each school is offering. One typically stands out as the winner. Best wishes to you as you make your final choice!
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