Post By: COYD Staff
Now that you have received acceptance letters, you have a hard decision ahead of you. Choosing the best college for you is not an easy task. It is a decision that should be made with much thought, research, and self-reflection. Visiting the different colleges and analyzing the financial aid packages are definitely a key part of choosing which college you should attend. However, there are other things “under the surface” that you need to consider:
1. What type of teaching/curriculum does the university subscribe to?
Look at forums and ask the university staff about the curriculum. Are there core classes that you have to take? You need to analyze what kind of education you value and see if they align with the university’s philosophy of teaching. Recently, Valerie Strauss of the Washington Post wrote, “By asking questions, students and their parents can learn how the academic life is structured and by whom at a given institution. While some students view any curricular requirement as an undue burden, an institution’s core curriculum says a lot about what is valued by the faculty, about what they think are critical elements in being a well-educated citizen.”
2. Do you thrive more in a big fish/small pond university or small fish/big pond university?
Each person is different when it comes to where they thrive. Some students right out of college need a small class size and individualized attention. Others thrive better in a larger institution in a big city. Knowing yourself is the key to figuring out where you would most thrive. Many students, including the smartest students, become extremely depressed in college because they are not ready for a less personalized educational surrounding. A valedictorian of a high school with 120 people in their graduating class might not achieve the same kind of academic success in a large school with 6000 people where the average classroom size is 300 students. That doesn’t mean you should not challenge yourself and step out of your comfort zone. I’m just saying that every student is different and knowing what you are ready for as a person should be a huge consideration when choosing the right college for you.
To continue to dig deeper, check out the below posts to make sure you make a solid, comprehensive college decision:
Top 5 best reasons to choose a college
Top 5 worst reasons to choose a college
Ivy League is not always the answer
Questions to ask when deciding which college to attend
