There are a multitude of colleges across the United States, and every August, thousands of high school seniors apply to/visit these schools that could possibly be their future home. This decision is huge, and sets up your pathway towards your ultimate destination. Here are 10 reasons I think you should pick a college (not in any particular order):
1) Make SURE they have your major, or interests in a major:
This one is huge. I know so many people who realized that the schools they applied to didn't even have the major they wanted. Do not just assume every big college has all the majors, because they don't. Every place is different, so make sure you are picking a school that has the major you wish to pursue in the long run, and maybe a few backups just in case.
2) Is the college in a location that you like?
If you hate the cold, don't go to school up North. Yes, you will be inside for class, but you will have to walk to class. Also if you know you are a homebody, pick a school nearby your house thats just close enough to go home whenever, but just far enough to feel like you are away at school.
3)Does the college support your religious beliefs
Pick a school that will help you grow in your faith. College is the time to find yourself and having a school that supports you religiously will be a huge blessing. For me, this was a deal breaker. I wanted to have a strong support system for whenever times got difficult, because you WILL have some rough days/weeks, and having a school that strengthens your faith is huge.
4) Does the school take time to engage all the new students and help you make friends?
Many of my friends did not think about this one either while applying to schools. LOOK INTO IT. College is a time to make new friends and build community. Make sure the school you choose helps make it easy for you to meet others, even if that means living in a dorm!
5) Are there ways to get involved (organizations)?
If you want to play sports, make sure there's intermurals. The biggest mistake you can make is assume here. Look into the clubs there are, if nothing interests you, then that should be a red flag. If you are all about greek life, look into the sororities/fraternities on campus. Some schools don't have national chapters, and that might not be your sort of thing.
6) How is the campus?
Yes, I think the natural beauty of the campus plays a part. If you are going to be walking to class every day, then take into account what you will be walking through. If you don't care about the view, than it won't matter to your decision.
7) What are the class sizes/ professors like
I wanted a big school with a small school feel, but thats not what everyone wants. Look into the class sizes and the professor student ratio. Also, talk to other students about their experiences with professors. Every school will have bad professors, but not every school will have the good ones to outweigh the bad.
9) Is there a strong athletic support system?
Let's all admit it. We like the idea of supporting a school that has a fun sporting event atmosphere. It's a great way to just have school spirit and be with your friends. Find a school that has a kick butt student section that you can be apart of. It doesn't have to be big, it just should exist.
10) What feeling did the school leave with you when you visited
There are plenty of people who will ignore this one. If you had an uneasy feeling about the school from the start than keep looking. You will know when you've found your future home after the visit. You won't be able to stop talking about it. That warm fuzzy feeling you get when you even think about living there? That's home. That's what its all about. Providing a community you can live and thrive in.
Baylor ended up being my home. (you had to know I was going to talk about Baylor at some point didn't you?) It fit everything on my wish list from class sizes to student sections. Find your Baylor, or find Baylor, whichever comes first of course. Sic ' em College. Sic 'em future Bears.
