As an independent college consultant, it is my job to help students select a college that will provide them with the most success. One of the first questions I ask is, “What colleges are you considering?” The answer is inevitably quite similar for most of my California-based students: Cal Poly, UCLA, USC, Stanford. How did they decide on these schools? It is usually because they have heard of them, they like the weather or the football team. I have even had students tell me that they chose the school because their “significant” other is going there. So today I want to discuss the importance of college selection and what criteria to consider in choosing.
Academics, social, and financial should all be considered in the selection process. Are you an academic match? If you are carrying a 3.2 GPA, with average SAT scores (500s), it will likely be a waste of the $90 application fee to apply to Stanford where 92% of the students there carry a 3.75 unweighted GPA and about 70% of the students scored over 700 in each area of the SAT. And what if you were accepted? Would you really want to sit in a class when you academically represent the bottom 3% of the class? That grading curve could be painful!
It is also important to find a good “social” match. When trying to find a good social fit, we look at the type of college to consider. Do you want a small or large college? Do you want a research college or a liberal arts college. Do you want a college or a university? Chances are, you do not even know why each of these factors matter. So let’s take a look.
In a small college, class sizes are typically smaller and allow for more student-to-teacher interaction. However, the smaller colleges may not have as many majors to choose from, the facilities may not be as updated, and they may not have the same “name recognition” as some of the larger universities. However, that does not mean it is not as good academically as many larger universities. Liberal Arts colleges typically fall more into the “small” college category and will provide a more well-rounded academic approach.
The larger universities, on the other hand, will provide a plethora of majors and courses. They typically have more updated facilities, and better funded sports programs. However, although there may be a more distinguished faculty, the classes may be taught by teaching assistants. The classes may contain hundreds of students with limited student-teacher interaction.
Financial fit is also an important factor to consider . It is important to note here, that it is not the actual cost of the college, but rather the out-of-pocket cost to the family. This should be one of the first things considered when beginning to search for the right college. Do the research! Don’t waste your time and money applying to a college you cannot afford.
Choosing the right college can make a big difference in the overall cost. Choose the right college and you may save a ton of money!
