Now that high school seniors are beginning to sort through their acceptance letters, to attend admitted students weekends, and to make their commitments, the question of how to pick the right college is paramount. When weighing the decision that will directly affect the next four years and indirectly affect the rest of your life, it’s not enough to simply rely on the rankings from US News and World Report. Therefore, when choosing between the near-2,000 4-year colleges in America, a student ought to involve equal parts investigation and introspection.
The first choice students must generally make is between a university and a college. For those who don’t know the difference, universities include both undergraduate and graduate programs. Universities tend to be larger, to possess abundant resources, and to focus on research ahead of instruction. For those self-motivated and aware undergraduates who know what they want, the university setting provides a near-infinite setting for exploration and learning. Liberal Arts Colleges, however, focus unwaveringly on undergraduate education, providing smaller classes and focused attention and mentorship. For bright students whose pursuits are undefined, the intimacy of a college can be far more enriching than the vast scale of the university.
Beyond that large question, there are numerous issues of personal preference – city vs. suburb, geography, proximity to home, cost, abroad opportunities, campus culture, even culinary options – to consider. When trying to decide, the best course of action is to visit each school and mingle with the community of current and incoming students. That’s right, if you’re considering attending a school sight-unseen, think again. A prefrosh visit is utterly essential. You wouldn’t buy a pair of jeans without trying them on… so don’t even consider attending a college without first seeing how it fits.
When visiting a school, the most important variable is the student body. This is the community in which you’ll be living, working, and socializing for the next four years. If you feel at home and happy early-on, the transition to independent and challenging academic work will be much easier.
Along that line, the best place to look for a diverse, social college experience is the dining hall. This is the single place on campus that will showcase the entire cross-section of social life. Everyone has to eat, and generally speaking, like-minded people tend to dine together. If you want to understand the implicit and explicit social dynamics of a college, then take a long lunch and/or dinner and pay attention to your surroundings and even try meeting some of the people you find interesting. As a prospective student, you will certainly be welcomed and inundated by numerous opinions about the school. Let this be your first lesson in filtering information to suit your preferences rather than someone else’s.
Last and certainly not least, you must go to some classes in subjects you find interesting. While the anonymity and awe of large lecture classes is appealing, also seek out smaller seminars to gauge the collegiate discussion dynamic. Of course scholarship is going to transcend most high school curricula. Don’t be daunted; you’ll fit right in by the end of freshman year.
Last but not least, you have to understand that there is no perfect school out there. Every setting will have times both good and bad. Exams and papers will be more frequent than parties as well. The key is to place yourself in an environment conducive to success within and without the classroom. That way you’ll get the most out of the next four formative years of your life.
In many cases, College selection is an example of the Paradox of Choice. To learn more, check out this Ted Talk by Barry Schwartz:
