Your senior year of high school has finally come. You never thought this year would arrive and now find it hard to believe that the next chapter of your life is a mere 365 days away. Are you ready to enter the next stage of higher education? Or do you even want to go to college? For those of you deciding on what university to attend or if higher education is the right path for you, here are a few questions to ask yourself.
1. What do you hate to do?
Normally, people ask what do you love to do. But I would rather start by process of elimination. What can you not stand doing? Some people pursue specific careers for financial reasons alone. However, they end up not enjoying their career and would have rather done something they enjoy more. In high school, did you hate particular subjects? If you hated biology, then why become a doctor? Did you not like debating or public speaking? Then maybe you should not pursue a degree in law just to make a lot of money. Why pursue a career for money alone? If you are going to hate your job every day, then is it really worth it? Sometimes, higher education is not for everyone, but that is OK! Frankly, some plumbers and mechanics make more money then people graduating from college! There is no shame in not pursuing higher education if you did not like high school.
2. What do you love to do?
This question seems very vague and open-ended, but it is one of the most significant things to contemplate when choosing a career. Think about it: your career is most likely what you will be doing for the next 20 to 30-years. Will your 40-hours a week be grueling, meaning you have to wake up at 6:00 a.m. to drive to a job and then count the minutes until you can return home? Or will they be 40-hours that you cannot wait to return to each week? If you love working with children, maybe you would make a great teacher. Are you a problem solver? Engineering may be a good field to look into. Do you enjoy working with your hands and repairing broken things? Then possibly consider becoming a mechanic. Either way, find what you love to do so that you can love your job the rest of your life.
3. What degree are you considering pursuing?
College choice has a lot to do with what degree you want. If you do not know what degree you want, consider a community college before a four-year university. Maybe you're still not sure if higher education is a good fit for you. Going to a two-year school and taking general education classes can help you decide that. It is much cheaper instead of spending money and time at a four-year university. So if you have decided that you truly want to pursue higher education, then look at what majors the college has to offer. Does the college offer your degree or something similar? If not, then consider looking elsewhere. If so, then there are multiple other factors to consider.
4. How well do you want to know the faculty and your fellow classmates?
University size is a significant factor when choosing a college. Are you personable and like to get to know everyone? A smaller school might be better for you. Or would you rather be a number in a crowd where you meet someone once and never see him/her again? Then a larger university is probably up your alley. There are advantages to both. Everyone knows everyone and almost everything about each other at smaller schools. Yet a positive side to this is that you can have more personal connections with your professors: this is good for letters of recommendation. At larger schools, professors may barely know you, but if you have a bad experience with one person, then chances are you won't see them again. Or maybe go in between at a medium school. It all depends on what size is comfortable for you.
5. Where is it located?
Weather and climate are also important to think about when choosing a college. Do you like warm weather and hate snow? Then maybe look at schools further south. Or do you not mind snow? Then the north might be a better choice. However, climate is not the only factor. Would you rather be closer to home where you could easily go visit your family whenever you want? Or would you rather be half way across the country and only come home on holidays? Location is something to also consider.
6. What activities are there to do on campus?
Do you like Greek life? Then maybe consider a university that has some sororities and fraternities. Are you a huge sports fan who wants large arenas or would you prefer fancy theaters and shows? Is there a lot of places to go on the weekends near the campus? Are there opportunities to get involved with campus life such as clubs and campus ministries. What about a religious presence? These are additional questions to consider.
7. How much does it cost and what is the rate of job placement?
If the university is very expensive, then consider are all the different opportunities at that college worth it in the end? Are they successful in job placement, or is a less expensive school just as good? College is about receiving a degree to eventually land a career. Is your job going to worth it to pay those very expensive student loans in the end? Or will you even have a job when you have finished your four years at college and have loans to pay? Also, what opportunities are there to prepare you for your job? Are there people willing to help you land that job and what kind of connections does the university itself have?
8. What is housing like?
If you are going to have to stay on campus, then do you like how the dorms are? Are the rooms too small or unclean? Is there central air conditioning? Is there guaranteed housing for all four years? Or will you have to find an off-campus apartment? And if you do have to find something off-campus, what is available? Also, is housing expensive? What kinds of rules are there with living on campus? Are these rules very strict or more lenient? These are all questions to consider when looking at universities.
8. What do students say about the school itself?
Students were once in your shoes. They have lived there just like you will and can tell you things that are brutally honest about the. Maybe they wish they would have gone to another school in the first place. They originally thought they would like a large school and find out a smaller school would be a better fit. Conversely, maybe they thought they would love their smaller school and end up not feeling the same way anymore. The honest truth comes from the students themselves. The best way to find out what life is like for students is to stay overnight with one. Many colleges offer overnight stays where you can stay with a student in the dorm and then attend a class the next day. This gives you a real feeling of what it would be like to be at that college.
There are numerous questions to ask yourself before choosing a college. What will you decide?
