Choosing the right educational institution like a college or a university is not an easy task. You have to take into consideration, several hundred factors. Depending on who you talk to, what is perfect or the right fit for someone is usually not the same for someone else.
In all my years of experience as an education counselor, I have observed the following. Students who were completely blown away during the research stage of knowing more about the college stopped feeling the same way once they were actually there and admitted.
Similarly, a lot of students I know who were hesitant and unconvinced about the college they were joining are now actually thriving in the atmosphere. In other words, selecting a great educational institution is part science, part arts!
If you wish to know more about some of the best colleges and universities, students are applying to, read more. In this article, we are going to list down five steps that can help you select an educational institution that will be the perfect fit for you.
5 Easy Steps to Help you Select the Best College or University for Yourself
Step 1- Create a Thorough Shortlisting Process:
The first step that you need to do is shortlist all the colleges according to four main criteria- location, campus size, major’s degree, and placement. According to experts, you should not have more than 10 colleges on the shortlist. This will help you create a list of the best-ranking colleges that you want to apply to. If you go for more than this, you will not be able to manage.
Step 2- Arrange your Priorities and Expectations from the Colleges:
Every college you have shortlisted will have some positive points and some negative points. Experts recommend that students at this stage should write down about priorities or what is an educational institution matter to them. For example, whether the Majors Degree has a course you dislike or the college has a great sports team? You need to prioritize accordingly.
Step 3- Stop Procrastinating and Schedule the Applications on time:
Writing college applications is something almost every student dreads. One small mistake can cost you the application. This is why you need to start with them in the Senior Year itself. Take out enough time for the form-filling process. You should also keep time aside to help you with your college visits, submitting application essays, and getting credible recommendations.
Step 4- Visit the Colleges and Ask as Many Questions as you want-
After submitting the applications, you will have some time on your hand. This is the perfect time to revisit the colleges and universities and ask them all the questions you want. You can go into a lot of details. Try to soak up the campus life and see whether you find it appealing or not. You should also visit the classes, dorms, and other common areas of the institution.
Step 5- Think about the Economic Considerations and Finances-
No matter how much anyone says that finances do not matter, we know for a fact that they are lying. You must have a financial plan of action in place that will help you afford the tuition fees at the institution. If you have a scholarship that will cover part payments then you are lucky. If not, you might have to take a loan. This is why this step is important.
The Bottom Line
A good college that is a decent fit for the kind of person you are can do wonders to set up your career in the best possible fashion. By following the above-mentioned five steps, you can be well on your way to joining a college that is the perfect fit for your present and future. If you have any other questions, you would like clarifications to, let us know in the comments section. We will try to answer as many of them as possible.
