There are certain factors that must be considered before choosing a college. After all, this is a huge decision. You’ll be spending the next four years at this college. There are 3 things that you have to keep in mind as you go through the college selection process: school preferences, career plans, and personal needs.
Below I’ll identify 10 questions that you can ask yourself to help you think through these very important things.
Question 1 – What Will I Major In?
If you know for certain that you want to major in physical therapy or zoology, but the colleges you’re researching don’t offer these majors, then you have to reconsider either your major or your college selection.
Question 2 – How Sure Am I About My Major Choice?
A lot of students change their college major at least once during their college career, so selecting a college solely based on your major might not be a good idea. You might be stuck on a major in biology, but then later realize that you want to major in finance. So take some time to really consider how sure you are about your major choice.
Question 3 – Should I Consider A Community College?
Some students just aren’t ready to attend a 4-year college or university. This could be for several reasons…affordability, maturity, fear of homesickness, grades, etc. Whatever the case may be, consider if a community college might be a better option for you at this stage in your life.
Question 4 – Should I Attend A Small or Large University?
If you attended a small private high school, then you might not be comfortable at a large university with hundreds of students in each lecture or you might be ready for a change. Just take time to think about these things…
Question 5 – Should I Consider A Faith-Based College?
If religion plays an important role in your life, maybe you should consider attending a faith-based college. Add this to your list of things to research as you are selecting a college.
Question 6 – Private vs. Public College?
Some students will prefer private colleges, while others will prefer to attend a public college.
Question 7 – Can I Afford It?
You have to pay attention to the price tag and how much money you can afford to spend on a college education before you can make a decision.
Question 8 – How Am I Going To Pay For College?
Will your parents be helping you out with tuition and other expenses or are you on your own? Will you take out any loans? Are you expecting to receive any scholarships or grants?
Question 9 – Will I Live On Campus?
This is another element that will play a role in how much it will cost to attend college. Living on campus can be expensive, so you must budget for this expense.
Question 10 – How Far Away From Home Do I Want To Go?
In what geographic area do you want to attend college? Are you ready to move half way across the country or does the thought of being more than a couple hours away from home give you anxiety? These are all things that you must consider as you go through the college selection process.
Additional Helpful Tips for Students
