How NOT to Choose a College.

Deciding which college to attend is perhaps the biggest decision you have had to make in your life up to that point.  It’s a decision that decides where you will live for the next four years; therefore, it isn’t something that should be taken lightly.  So, instead of discussing how to choose your future school, I’m going to give you some tips on how NOT to choose a college.

“Because my friends are all going there,” is definitely not a good reason to choose a certain school.  In fact, it may be a reason to decide against going to that particular school.  You may need to get away from your friends and start fresh in order to be successful.  Examine why you might be considering going to the same school as your high school friends. If your answer keeps coming back to because there is comfort in the familiar and you know what to expect from them, this is a poor reason to go to that school. A part of college is learning more about yourself, how you relate to the world around you, and what kind of people you want to surround yourself with. You will make new friends in college. I guarantee it. Don’t hold yourself back just so you can go to a school with a high school friend that you might not even be friends with in two years. You should choose a college that excites YOU, and not worry about where your friends are going.

Back in the 1950’s and before, it seems that students just went to the same colleges that their parents had chosen long before them. Although you don’t have to, many students still choose their college that way. This is not a good idea for a number of reasons. First, you are probably very different from your parents. What made them happy about a college might not be what you are looking for. Also, you need to think about what you want to major in. If your dad is an engineer and your mom is a scientist, but you want to be an artist, you need to make sure that the college they went to has the kind of program you are looking for.

Being a big-time fan of a college’s sports teams is also not a great reason to choose a school. Sports might make you happy on game day, but what about the rest of the week? Don’t just think about what color you’re going to wear into the stadium on Saturdays when you’re sending out your college applications.

So what college is the right fit for you?  This decision, unfortunately, isn’t one that comes easily.  You need to make sure that this college has everything you want.  If you are a huge college football fan, do they even have a team?  Do they have your major or course of study?  Do you like the residence halls or food that is served there?  Are the professors of high quality and do they teach in a manner that is most suited to your learning style?  I could go on and on about questions that need to be considered before making this huge decision, but I think you get the point.  It is very important to take your time, do your homework on this, and make a decision that will be the best for YOU for the next four years.