Decision Day can be stressful, especially if you have been fortunate enough to get a lot of college acceptance. Many students and families feel overwhelmed and fear that the wrong choice will be their doom. Well, fret not! Here are 5 things you should consider when you are narrowing down your college choices.
1. Affordability - You should always begin with Affordability. Affordability can mean different things to different people. but in general it means how affordable a school is, regardless of price, after Grants, Loans and Scholarships have been applied and after all other financial aid resources have been considered. Some families are comfortable paying a certain amount out of pocket while others simply cannot. Students and families should consider how much they can comfortably pay and discard any options that fall outside of that range. Affordability should also be considered first in an effort to generate as little after-college debt as possible. After all, college is supposed to enrich your life, not saddle you with exorbitant debt before you've even had a chance to begin your life.
2. Academic Major - Once you know if a school is affordable, next make sure that it has your Academic Major or at least a variety of programs that pique their interest so that you have reasonable options.
3. Academic Quality and Prestige - Once you know that a school is affordable and that it has your major, now review the school's rankings, especially the ranking for your major. You are now essentially choosing the "best" school for your money. You can certainly be successful not matter what school you choose, but there are still many places in society where the college name on your resume will open some doors and close others. Don't shoot the messenger, that's just the way it is.
4. Academic and Social Supports - We all need a little help sometimes and a school's support services and social outlets should definitely be considered. These services not only make a college experience more enjoyable, they can be crucial to academic success, soft skill development, and mental health and happiness. Supports might include tutoring and advising, counseling and therapy, clubs and organizations, disability services, sororities and fraternities, minority student affairs, sports programs (for athletes or avid spectators), or even residential/dorm life. Every student needs something different, so finding the right mix of supports that suit YOU can be crucial. A school may be great, but is it great for YOU!
5. Location and Size - Now that you have considered all of the other factors, you should now consider things like Location and Size. I reserve these things for last because, quite frankly, people are resilient and the location and size of a school is less important if the other factors are satisfied. If a school isn't affordable, it won't matter how big or how small it is, or if a school has strong supports, a student can thrive no matter where it is, regardless of size.
Students and families put a lot of stress on themselves when it comes to choosing a school, but in the full scheme of things, it is your own personal commitment to yourself and your goals that will ultimately determine college success. Good luck on choosing your best fit!
Happy Decision Day!
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