Things to Consider When Picking a College

It is time to pick a college. Even if you know what you want to major in, there are numerous factors to weigh before picking the school. Say you know what school you want to go to, I personally, really and I mean really wanted to go to MIT. Unfortunately, wanting to go to a school doesn't necessarily mean that the school wants you. Picking too many schools can lead to hefty college application costs that add up quickly.

What is the right number of schools to apply to?

Ideally, the recipe is:

• 3 reach schools (i.e. schools you don't quite have the scores/grades to get admitted)

• 3 more likely/still a little reach (i.e. schools your scores are closer to/cover)

• 3 guaranteed (i.e. schools your grades are well within the range of acceptance)

This is a total of 9 schools, which can total to ~$900 (high estimate). If that is a bit out of your price range, consider modifying the number of schools in each bucket, till you reach a number you and your family are comfortable with. Be honest with yourself regarding your reach vs. safety schools. Note: your reach schools don't have to be Ivy Leagues, they are simply the schools that you might have a harder chance of meeting the entry requirements for. Also note, just because you do not meet the entry requirements as a high school senior does not mean you cannot go to your dream school. There are many ways... but that's for later.

Let's say, you're picking five schools to apply to one reach, two maybes, three safety. How do you decide which school to apply to? There are infinite factors you can consider when picking a school, but these six cover the most important parts of college.

1. Cost

The number one factor determining you will go to that school isn't even if you can get in, but can you afford the tuition, room and board, books, administration fees, club costs, etc that accumulate over the 4 years. If not, does the school provide opportunities to gain funding either through the local government or scholarships? Can you work part-time at the school or in that country? The worst thing hearing as a kid is that your parents cannot afford the school you worked so hard to gain admission to, but this is why open communication and planning are important. It is important to run the costs of not only applying, admission, and housing.

2. Location & Housing

Where is this school located? How comfortable are you being far away from family and friends? Are you a warm or cold body? The thought of snow is cute, but imagine you have an 8 am exam; it's a blizzard with -30 degree weather outside, and you have to walk 20 minutes to the bus to just get to campus. Not so cute now, trust me. Does it rain a lot? What kinds of natural disasters can you expect there? Is the school near a hospital? Is it near a major airport? Is it in or near a major town? Is there a dining hall for students to eat at? Are grocery stores near? Is there public transportation or do people own vehicles? What do people do there for fun? What kind of people live there? Better yet, where are you going to live? Does the school provide housing or must you find it yourself? In the US, it is required at most schools that freshmen live on campus, but abroad, this is not always the case.

3. Opportunities

When I was applying to college, for some reason, I never really thought about what I would do after the 4 years. When picking a college, I never considered what companies recruit from that school. Fortunately for me, Microsoft recruited heavily from my university, and I got an internship. Is there a dream company you'd like to be employed by? Do they recruit from any school you're applying to? Maybe you're not looking for work, but rather are interested in startups. Does your school have programs or clubs for startups? Workshops for entrepreneurs? Are venture capitalists alum of the school? If you want to go into academics, are any of the schools on your list big research institutions? Going into medicine, does it have a partnership with any major hospital?

Outside of what you'll be doing after college, what about during college when you're not in class? Does the school have many clubs you can join? Do they have study abroad programs? Does the school offer opportunities to work? Do they have sports teams? Gym facilities? Is access included?

4. Diversity

There are those that pick their school based on race or religion, which is 100% ok. HBCU colleges are quite popular and the preferred choice if you are looking for an opportunity to foster networks and relationships within the Black community. Similarly, there exist Christian-focused colleges for students of that specific belief system. If you are looking for a diverse experience, it is vital to review the student demographics of that school. Are there more females than males on campus? I believe it is important to attend schools that give a wide variety of upbringings, income classes, races, and religions to allow for the most exposure. Plus, we live in a diverse world, attending a diverse school can help in the transition from college to the career world. It is important to expose yourself to opinions that differ from your own. Still, even I can agree, it is nice to have a community you can relate to. Does the school have a Caribbean students or international students network?

5. Culture + Social Scene

What is the culture at that school? Is it super competitive and academically-focused or is it more social and party-culture? What values does the administration hold near? Is there a PC culture? How safe is it to be a girl at this school? Have there been instances of sexual misconduct or assault? Is crime prevalent? Is there security? Are people social or isolated? Do the students enjoy attending this school? What about the staff? Are the teachers engaged in your growth or are you just a number? These questions can vary based on the size of the school. Smaller schools are more close in culture; however, larger schools can create that televised college experience with large stadiums and parties. The best way to know the true culture of a school is to talk to someone that recently or currently goes there. Facebook often has class groups for different universities; it could be worth checking these out or looking on Reddit.

6. Ranking

The most common way to pick a school is based on rank. I put ranking last because it is the most superficial way of picking a school, and I believe there is more to the experience of college than going to the #1 school for your field of interest. Usually, #1 ranking schools are extremely competitive, which can be very harmful to one's mental health. Though ranking matters, what matters most is your ability to garner the experiences and opportunities necessary to move forward in your career and life after college. Will that school help you get the job you're looking for? Will it help you network with the right people? Will it expose you to new ideas and perspectives? Is it is somewhere you will enjoy spending the next 4 years of your life? It is likely the #1 school does answer yes to all of these, then great, apply.

Picking a school is important for no one else but you. You have to enjoy going there otherwise, what's the point. It is easy to pick a school that everyone else wants you to go to because of the hype or whatever, but it is important you pick these schools for the right reasons. College is a launching pad for your career. You are paying them to give you the knowledge you need to be the best version of you, so you can build the life you've always wanted. Colleges are picking their students-wisely, so you too should pick wisely.

Need help picking or searching for schools?

Check out our college fact sheets, and if you want to chat about your choices, book a consultation session with us. We would be happy to help you talk through your choices.

Happy College Picking!

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