CHOOSING A COLLEGE

What college should you go to? It depends on a number of things: the kind of profession you see yourself practicing, your budget, your academic background, and whether or not you’re willing to relocate.

There are hundreds of colleges and universities all over the country, and thousands all over the world. This means that whatever your preferences or your background, there’s bound to be a school that’s perfect for you.

It is very important that you find a “good fit”. A college’s reputation is very important, but so are your needs and your personality. Remember, you will be spending the next four years of your life in this school. Make sure that it can provide the learning environment which will best develop your potential and lay the groundwork for your career.

With such a wide selection of academic institutions, how do you narrow down your options? Here are some factors to consider

COURSE OFFERINGS

What courses does it offer? You may want to be a business major, but nearly all schools offer a business track. Look at the subjects and the curriculum. Do any of the subjects interest you?

You should also look at whether or not the school provides enough opportunities for students to have hands on experience. This can include practicum programs, workshops and internships, and field trips. Does it have a variety of extracurricular activities?

If you are considering pursuing additional degrees, does it have a master’s degree and doctorate program?

FACULTY

Who is on their faculty? Look for a mix of academics and professionals with real life experience. It won’t do to have teachers that know everything that’s in the books but haven’t actually tested it in the real world.

You should also see whether or not the faculty are respected in their fields. Try doing a Google search on the names in the faculty roster.

REPUTATION

How is it respected in the country and in your profession? Look at college rankings, and ask around. Some colleges may be small but are held in very high regard in a particular field because of the quality of their graduates. Others may be very well known but only have a few strong courses that they specialize in. They may be known for their psychology programs, for example, but have weak fine arts programs.

COSTS

How much will it cost? Don’t just look at tuition; consider living expenses and transportation fees, and the cost of living in that area. Also check if the school offers financial aid, and if there are ways of working for the school to get discounts on tuition.

There are many decisions that we have to make in the course of our lives, but very few have such far-reaching consequences as the one involving our education. It influences our career, our personality, our outlook on life. It opens up opportunities, and enhances our skills. Here are some of the things that college can do:

1. Getting a college degree is one of the best steps we can take towards our professional advancement. Studies do you show that college graduates tend to get better jobs, and there are certain positions and companies that will only hire those who have a degree. Furthermore, college can free you to pursue even the most difficult fields, so that you can do what you really want—whether you’re an inventor or innovator, artist or architect, doctor or theater director.

2. The tuition we pay is just a very small investment compared to the financial rewards that we can reap from it. There are very clear studies on the salary differences between a college graduate and a high school graduate. For example, if a high school graduate gets 34,303 annually, a college graduate will net 56,334. Someone with a professional qualification, on the other hand, will get 99,411. The differences become even greater further along one’s career.

3. However, the “payback” isn’t just financial. College degrees can really impact on your entire personality, developing skills that aren’t necessarily in your transcript of records. For example, it can really sharpen your communication skills, develop your appreciation of culture and the arts, and improve your ability to approach tasks in an organized and methodical way. What you learn in college can also make you more curious about learning even more, as teachers introduce you to subjects that you normally wouldn’t have explored.

4. Many people feel that college was instrumental in developing their self confidence and understanding of themselves and other people. Perhaps it is all the opportunities to share one’s skills, or try out different things. Perhaps it is the environment in colleges where everyone is encouraged to share their ideas. Whatever it is about college, those who go through it have the advantage of being able to discover new aspects of their personality while meeting other people from different backgrounds.

Parents play an important role in preparing their children for college. This includes making sure that they have the financial means to send them to a good school, as well as giving the guidance and the support the child needs to get great grades. Studies show that family environment is one of the biggest factors in a child’s academic achievement. So even as early as pre school, parents are already influencing how the child will be able to cope with the college environment.

The Financial Preparation

College tuition can be very expensive, and parents must plan for many years to have the kind of money that the Ivy League schools and other reputable universities charge for education. The smartest thing to do is to make an investment in college educational plans. Talk to your bank or finance adviser about long term investment options that will ripen by the time your child graduates from high school.

Other options are available as well. For example you can assist your child in getting a scholarship. You can also help your child get financial aid from the various agencies and institutions that specialize in those kinds of loans. Even the school you apply to has student aid programs. As a last resort you can take a home equity loan but don’t do this without exhausting other options.

The Academic Preparation

You can’t cram years of education in one summer. Parents help prepare kids for college throughout their lives. This doesn’t just mean making sure they do their homework or reviewing them right before a test. It also includes developing their curiosity and their love for learning. You can do this by taking them to museums, musicals, field trips, and generally expanding their horizons through activities and experiences.

You should also create a home environment that is conducive to studying. Make sure they have a study area. Create a system of rules and rewards in place for good behavior, good grades and success. If they have a hard time with a subject be sure to step in and help them study. Also praise them when they do a good job and build their confidence and self esteem.

There’s one last thing which shouldn’t be forgotton when preparing for college and that’s personal preparation. For many children, college is their first time away from home and so sabatical years are very much a worthwhile idea as a way of developing independence and confidence. It could be a planned trip through an agencia de viajes, staying Spain for example and learning a little bit of the language, or it could be a worldwide trip - both will promote personal growth within the individual. A common way to prepare is to take one year off between school and college, work for 6 months to earn money and travel for 6 months (spending the money!). This is ideal because not only will the individual have personal experience from the travel but professional experience from the job too - and all this before even starting college!