Fees. Applications. Essays. Rejection. Acceptance. Nerves. Fear. Desire.
The college application process is one that is an emotional roller coaster. And then once you apply you somehow have to figure out which college is for you and which college you want to call your home for the next four years and pray that you don’t make the wrong decision. Scary right? I’ll admit, I was terrified.
Being 16 years old and having to make my first adult decision was terrifying. My parents had essentially told me that I was on my own for this one and it was a huge shock. I always wanted the freedom of independence but when it was served to me, it led to even more fear (but I’ll save that for another article).
Somehow, I had to narrow seven schools who accepted me down to one, which I would actually attend. But good news, I survived and I am 110% positive that I made the correct decision with committing to Stetson University (Go Hatters!). So fear no longer, here are a few tips to help you figure out how to choose the school that is right for you.
1. Do Your Research
What are your dreams? What do you hope to achieve in your future? Use the school’s website to figure out if they offer a major that will provide you with the skills you need for the workforce or requirements to attend graduate school. If you plan to attend graduate school or obtain a Master’s Degree, look into the requirements that you need in order to be able to get into these programs and see if they align with the schools you have applied for/been accepted to. While it seems early, you need to begin looking many years into the future so that you can set yourself up to be the best candidate that you can be for grad school or the workforce.
2. Small School vs Big School
I was on a college tour and liked nothing about this school. I wanted to leave but my parents wanted me to stay for the remainder of the tour. Boy, am I glad I did. The tour guide ended up saying one thing that I took to heart and applied to the rest of my college search: “Figure out if you are a big school student or a small school student because it will really help you narrow down your colleges.” This is so true. Small schools and big schools are so different.
I realized that I am definitely, without a doubt, a small school student. I went to a high school with a graduating class of 154 and have been in the same school system since kindergarten. I realized that at a small school I would be able to know my professors and they would know me by name. That my professors would be able to write me recommendation letters and they would be genuine because we would have a relationship. That I would be able to walk around campus and say hi to people and know them by name. And I figured out that this is the environment that I need to thrive in college.
3. Private vs Public
Whatever you do, DO NOT let the price of tuition scare you away from applying or attending. Trust me. Stetson says that it is 55,000 dollars a year and I am most certainly in no financial position to be paying that kind of money for college. I learned that private schools give so many scholarships that sometimes they end up coming out to be even cheaper than public schools. I received about half of my tuition in scholarships from Stetson and with a few other outside scholarships I was able to bring this price down to a reasonable amount for my family to pay for. So do not let the price of a school discourage you from applying or looking into it. I promise, you will never pay that full price at a private school.
4. School Extracurricular Opportunities
Look into the types of clubs and organizations that a school has to offer you. What are you passionate about? What do you stand for? What do you want to affiliate yourself with in college? What makes you you? Figure out what organizations you could see yourself getting involved in and what you want your college experience to look like. If there is something you feel strongly for and it doesn’t seem to be represented on the list of opportunities to get involved, find out what you need to do to start a club on campus. Being involved in college is super important and so this is a key factor on choosing a school. Find a school in which you feel has a large amount of people who stand for the same things you do and you can relate with.
5. College Tours
Many people don’t see the importance in college tours but honestly, they are the most important factor in choosing a school. On a campus tour you are able to submerge yourself in campus life. Take advantage of all tour opportunities whether it be group tours, individual tours, overnight stays, sitting in on classes, camps. Whatever you can get your hands on will most definitely benefit you. Also, make sure to go during the school year and when classes are in session so that you can truly get a feel of an average day on campus. Talk to current students, faculty members, and your tour guide to get their personal experiences on campus. And most importantly, don’t be afraid to ask questions. Your tour guide is there to help you and they do it because they are passionate. So ask away.
At the end of the day, you will feel an indescribable peace when you find the college that you belong at. Do not fear. Instead, enjoy this time. Think about it this way. All of these colleges want YOU. You have all of these choices and now you get to be in control of your future. Cherish that feeling.
