Between all the unsolicited mail you're getting from NoIdea
U., college fairs, and everyone you know offering their opinions,
how do you figure out which school would be best for you? Here
are some guidelines to follow to avoid common pitfalls and make
the right decision.
Where to go?
You should spend time thinking about the "must-haves" of a
college. For some, location is an important factor. For others,
size (big or small) definitely matters. Does the school have a
strong athletics program? Are students very intellectual? Are you
interested in a school's drama or art department? Different
students have different needs and interests. Find out which
schools are a potential fit for you.
Check that price again.
At first glance, a state school may seem to cost a fraction of
the price of a private college or university. However, many
students at state schools don't end up graduating in four years.
Check that state school's four-year graduation rate before
choosing it over a private school for financial reasons alone
reasons. Get tips
on financing your college education.
Talk to alumni from your high school.
Contact someone from your high school who's currently
attending a particular college or university. Asking just any
student at a college his or her opinion of the school can be
helpful, but won't offer the same insight as someone whose
background is similar to yours.
Stats worth noting
While rankings can vary widely and don't necessarily give you
relevant information, you should find out a school's freshman
year retention rate (it should be 93% or better). These both
reflect how students feel about the school—if they like it enough
to stay, and if they remember it fondly enough to give money
after graduating. If you're applying for financial aid,
definitely check the average percentage of demonstrated need met.
This number is much more telling than just finding out the dollar
amount of the average aid package.
Some really important numbers
You should find out all you can about the campus crime
statistics. New federal legislation requires colleges to produce
and report campus crime stats. Try to read between the lines on
this one. If you are in love with a school that has a "high"
crime rate, do some investigating; that rate could be attributed
to nothing more than a rash of bike thefts. But make sure you're
not getting into an unmanageable situation. Don't hesitate to
contact campus security directly to discuss this issue.
The Department of Education has a compilation of three
years of campus crime statistics on its website. You can view
a breakdown of crimes reported from 1998-2000 by category.
Scoping the digs
Maybe you think you have no time to visit prospective
campuses. Then don't come blaming us when you wind up living in a
dorm with roaches the size of rats, and rats the size of...well,
you get the idea. This is where you will be living for at least
four years. Is the food edible? Does the school guarantee
housing? How are the dorms? Are the bathrooms clean? If you don't
think you'd be able to live there, you probably shouldn't try.
This is why campus visits are so important.
While you're there, find out how wired your prospective campus
is. This goes beyond the number of computers in the school's
computer lab. Are there T1 connections in all dorm rooms? Are
undergradds required to bring a computer? (This adds to the price
tag too!)
Don't forget to ask an admissions officer, or a knowledgeable
guide, about other comparable colleges. You should ask something
along the lines of "What other colleges might I be interested
in?" It's probably not something to bring up at an admissions
interview, but on a standard campus visit, it's a good way to
gauge how this college sees itself (or would like to be seen), as
well as another way to expand your list of target schools.