The following excerpt is taken from The Simple Guide to College Admission & Financial Aid by Anne M. St.Pierre and Danielle M. Printz. The article is copyrighted and used here with permission from the authors.

Choosing the Right College

You probably already know there are many reasons why it is important to continue your education. No matter what your career goals are, a college education can help you reach them. A college education can also give you more career options, personal satisfaction, higher income, knowledge, experiences and opportunities that will enrich your life and help you achieve your dreams. Whether you plan to attend a four-year college or university, community college, or technical school, or are unsure at this point, this section will give you the guidelines for selecting colleges, as well as the necessary information you will need to apply for admission. If you have not explored many colleges by now, you will learn that there are many options when it comes to choosing colleges – like community and technical colleges, small private colleges and large state universities.  Each type of college has advantages and benefits, and there are many resources that can help you choose the school that is right for you.  An excellent (and free) resource for your initial college search is the U.S. Department of Education’s website Student Aid on the Web at www.studentaid.ed.gov.  This non-profit site also has a great deal of career, college and financial aid information. In fact, when you log in and input your student information, when you are ready to file your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) you can do so from this site without the need for typing your information again. You can also complete a college search by visiting the College Board’s website at www.collegeboard.com.

Before you begin your online search, you might want to develop a list of your priorities and identify characteristics of a college that appeal to you. For example, some students may want to attend a small school, or search for schools with a specific sport, program/major, admissions criteria and reputation, etc. Review information about each school so that you can make an informed decision.For more information about colleges, check with your high school – they may have career and college information computer programs to which you will have access. Consult with teachers, friends or professionals who may have attended a college you are considering. When researching colleges, you can search schools by state, majors and programs, campus size and athletics, just to mention a few. So, where do you start?  Begin by making a list of your colleges from your search that matches your criteria. The following considerations may help you to decide what type of school is best for you and then begin your college search.

Types of Schools
Researching school types will help you narrow your potential list of institutions and programs to which to apply. Spend some time thinking about what college or university may be a good fit for you. Below are descriptions of types of schools:

College - an institution that offers students a curriculum resulting in a four-year bachelor degree in a specific program.

University - an institution that may be similar to a college, and in addition, may offer a graduate degree beyond a bachelor degree.

Community College - an institution that provides two-year programs of study towards a certificate or an associate degree. A community college can be for the student who transfers to a four-year college or university, or for the student who wants a specialized training program for a specific occupation.

Vocational or Technical School - an institution that offers career-oriented programs in certain specialized occupations. These schools offer intensive courses of study that may take weeks, months or several years to complete, depending on the academic program.

United States Military Academies - are four-year institutions that are part of the military services. Like other colleges and universities, the academies consider your application materials carefully. Admission to all of the United States Military Academies is highly selective. Check the websites for current eligibility criteria, admissions requirements and information.  All, except the United States Coast Guard Academy, require applicants to obtain congressional nominations for admission. Instructions and sources for congressional nominations are outlined at each website.

United States Air Force Academy - www.usafa.edu
United States Coast Guard Academy - www.cga.edu
United States Merchant Marine Academy - usmma.edu
United States Military Academy at West Point - www.usma.edu
United States Naval Academy - www.usna.edu

Characteristics of Schools

Prior to starting your online search, you may wish to identify characteristics of a college that appeal to you. For example, you may wish to search for small schools, colleges with a specific sport or program/major, admission criteria, reputation, etc. Research each school so you can decide if you wish to apply.

Academic Programs & Majors - You may already have a career goal in mind; if so, be sure to research schools that offer that program or major. No major?  No problem.  If you are undecided at the moment, do not worry. While at college, you will have many opportunities to explore careers and majors before choosing one. 

Admissions Difficulty Level - Searching by admissions entrance difficulty level may be important to you. Match your academic experience, grade point average, etc. with a school’s admissions criteria.  For example, if you wish to attend a highly selective school, make sure you have the grades, required coursework, test scores, and other requirements to be a competitive applicant.

Location - City life?  Country charm? College campuses can range from several city blocks to a few acres in the country, to everything in between. Are you planning to visit home often? Do you prefer rolling hills, mountains, skyscrapers, warm or cold weather? If location matters to you, then be sure to research colleges that will provide you with the environment that suits you. Does Size Matter? College campuses can range from a few hundred students to thousands.  You may know everyone on-campus or see a new face every day.  The number of students at a college can sometimes affect your experiences on a campus or in the classroom. For example, at a large school, you may find yourself in a class with 100+ students. At a smaller school, you may attend class with just a handful of classmates.  Which environment appeals more to you?

Campus Life - Do you want to be part of a fraternity or sorority?  How about the school newspaper, basketball team, marching band or chess club?  What is the campus social life like?  Your college search should consider campus life, activities and opportunities in which you might like to participate.

Financial Aid
Most students require some sort of financial aid to attend college. Research your schools carefully and determine the total cost of attending the school (tuition, room and board, fees, books) but do not let the price tag scare you. Financial aid is designed to assist students throughout college. A couple of tips: 1) Public schools are usually less expensive than private schools and 2) state public schools are usually less expensive for residents than out-of-state students and 3) some highly selective private schools have larger amounts of money to help pay for the cost of school. When researching financial aid, find out what the college’s “median” financial aid award is for incoming freshman. If you need financial aid to attend college, this will give you an idea of affordability.

Still Not Sure?
Keep in mind that choosing a college is not just about choosing where you are going to spend the next two to four years of your life.  It is about setting life and career goals and figuring out what college or program can best help you reach those goals. And remember, you do not have to know exactly what career you want at the moment.  Many high school seniors are unsure about their career path when they enter college; also, they might change their minds while in college. So if you have not figured it all out yet, it is ok; there is plenty of time!

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