Developing a College Wishlist
What is your ideal campus environment?
What kind of community do you want to be a part of?
Academics and classes are also important considerations!
How do you want to get involved in extracurriculars?
Here’s How to Choose the Perfect College For You
When it comes to achieving your perfect college experience, which college you choose to apply to and attend makes a significant difference. Every school has their own culture, values, and traditions, but with the thousands of colleges that exist, how do you choose the best one for you?
It’s important to brainstorm what matters to you when choosing a school. Does location matter to you? What about the social scene? In this quick and easy guide, we’ll walk through some things you should consider when choosing what colleges to apply to.
Campus life
You’re going to be spending a significant amount of time on a college campus, so it should be a campus that you enjoy. Here are some questions you should ask:
How far is campus from home? Location of the school is especially important—do you want to live close to home or across the country? Keep in mind that you’re going to be traveling quite a bit in between home and campus throughout the years. Additionally, would you prefer living in an urban area or a rural one? Or potentially somewhere in between? Each location offers a different experience.
What is housing like? Check out the buildings and the layout of the dorms. If living in an older building isn’t for you, you might prefer a school that has more modern architecture. If you’re able to go on a college tour, asking what they think about housing would be a good idea.
Would you be willing to live with a roommate or multiple suitemates? Dorms come in all shapes and sizes, and if living with someone is a dealbreaker, make sure you check over a school’s housing policies.
Community
In addition to the physical campus itself, the people on that campus play a crucial role in determining whether you like or dislike your college experience. Ask yourself:
Do you prefer a college with a lively social scene or a lively library? Some schools have a more party-oriented culture, while some schools don’t have a party-culture at all. You’ll be able to make friends no matter where you go, but is there a type of social scene that you would prefer?
How diverse is the school? Are you going to have the opportunity to meet people from a variety of different backgrounds? There are also schools that are not co-ed, if that’s an experience you’d prefer. College is an excellent opportunity to meet and learn from diverse people in terms of race, socioeconomic background, or fields of study, so check out each school’s demographics to see if you’re able to get that chance.
How large is the student population? If you go to a large school with thousands or tens of thousands of students, you are going to meet a wider range of people. If you go to a small school, you’re more likely to have a more intimate campus environment. Have an ideal student population range in mind.
Classes
Remember that you are going to college to learn and obtain a degree. When considering academic opportunities, you should consider the following:
How rigorous is the program for your major? See what each school is known for, whether it’s engineering, business, humanities, or even its pre-med track. The more popular the major, the more rigorous it’s likely to be. On the other hand, if your major is relatively unknown at that school, then you might not be able to explore that field of study as much as you want.
How large are your classes? Are you more comfortable in a large lecture hall? Or in a small discussion group? Each school, often depending on its population, will have varying class sizes. What kind of classroom setting would you prefer?
Extracurriculars
Your life is not going to be centered entirely around academics, so what kinds of opportunities do you want to explore outside of the classroom?
Do you want to belong to one or more clubs? Many schools have a vibrant extracurricular scene, but check to see if there’s something you absolutely want to be a part of. Are you certain you want to join Greek life, a theatre troupe, or an acapella group? If the answer is yes, ensure that the colleges you’re applying to have that.
What kind of campus culture and events do you want? Some schools have more pre-professional extracurriculars that may be more exclusive, while some schools have very laid-back clubs. Maybe there are some school traditions that are really attractive to you.
You may not be able to anticipate everything that you’ll encounter during your college experience, but choosing the best school list for you can help set you up for a college experience you enjoy.
