4 Questions to Help You Choose a College
If you’re a junior in high school, it’s the time of year when people ask you where you will go to college. It’s not easy to answer, so you’re likely asking your teachers for recommendations and turning to the college board for research.
Create a list of schools to research and visit by reflecting and responding to the following questions.
- What key things do you want to get out of your college experience?
Here are a few ideas to get you started. Are you hoping to make connections, access tools or technology that you couldn’t otherwise access, and earn a degree required for your desired job?
2. What locations interest you, and how far from home do you want to be?
You might know you don’t like big cities, so cross schools in big cities off your list. Or you might want to be able to come home on the weekends, so look for schools that are within driving distance.
3. What are your top three goals?
Test writing them in the following format and write 3-5. The more you write, the more comfortable you’ll become with the structure.
I want to be able to __________ so that I can _____________
For example, I want to become a certified visual arts teacher to become a high school art teacher. This question is similar to the first, but you may find yourself writing different ideas. Since one of my goals was to be a certified art teacher, I could only look at schools with art education programs.
4. How much do you want to spend?
We all know that college isn’t free, so it’s essential to understand how you will pay for it and how much you can afford. Do you have family that’s going to help? Are you hoping to receive scholarships? How much debt are you willing to take on, and what does that mean for you after graduation?
After answering the four questions, you now have a solid list of things that you’re looking for and things that you’re not. Use this list to guide conversations with admissions counselors, school counselors, and other adults.
