You’ll find the right school faster if you’ve thought about the alternatives. Start by underlining the phrases below that sound good to you. Then prioritize your list based on which factors are most important to you now. You can always change your mind as you learn more, but starting here will put you on the path to discover your dream.
____ School Quality. Look not only at the school’s overall rank, but the quality of the specific programs you’re interested in and what educators and employers think about it.
____ School Size. Big schools offer a broader range of academic programs and extra-curricular activities. Small schools offer a more intimate environment where you are more likely to receive personalized attention from professors.
____ Program Size. School size doesn’t equal program size. Some large schools offer smaller residential colleges and learning communities. Some smaller schools focus on certain majors where they may have large class sizes.
____ Distance from Home. Do you want to get as far away from your parents as possible? Would you prefer instead to be close enough to sneak back for your favorite lasagna? Or do you like your room at home just fine?
____ Urban or Rural. A large city will mean a melting pot of cultures. A small town might feel more intimate and comfortable. Larger cities offer more cultural life; smaller towns offer the great outdoors.
____ In-state or Not. Remote destinations offer something different. But consider that you’ll save thousands of dollars on tuition and travel by staying in your home state. Plus many scholarships only work at in-state schools. A cheaper way to see the world may be a study abroad program at an in-state college.
____ Recreation. You won’t be studying all the time, and it’s important to have ways that you can get plugged into campus life. Consider clubs and sports you might join and the quality of the recreation center.
____ Facilities. What are the classrooms like? And where do students hang out after class? Consider libraries, computer labs, on-campus dining and study lounges.
____ Private or Public. Private institutions have higher price tags than public, but some offer more aid. Private schools tend to offer a smaller community environment.
____ The Ratio. Schools track the male to female student ratio, so which would you rather be surrounded by?
Jason Hagerman is a recent journalism grad.