If you are reading this guide right now, you’re a step closer to creating a list of colleges to which you want to apply. How to choose the right college for you? In fact, there’s no perfect recipe to find the right college. Some students prioritize rankings, others the social scene. But if you’re confused, you should keep reading the following factors to help yourself make the right choice.
Typically, students think about applying to colleges in the 10th or 11th grade. By following an arrangement of steps, a student may feel confident enough in their college decision. Plus, we all know that a college degree can open the door to a better life, job opportunities, and higher salaries.
Selecting a college is a major life decision. Many factors may influence a student’s decision when selecting a college, some of which include location, cost of attendance, size, and majors offered. Further, students must tolerate the difficult admissions process, which might include testing scores, extracurricular activities, grades, and letters of recommendation.
According to statistics, in 2017, universities and colleges accepted only 37% of applicants from across the board.
Social Media and College Selection
Social media plays an essential role in students’ college decision-making process. In 2016, more than 70% of students used social media, including Instagram and Facebook, to gather information on universities. It’s a significant improvement for students’ college research, compared to when only 28% used social media for their college research in 2013.
However, college admissions don’t always include a review of applicants’ social media accounts, but still, students must be careful about what they choose to post online, especially while preparing to apply to college.
When colleges review students’ applications, they might also look at how academically prepared they are for college. So, students must ensure they are presenting themselves in the best way possible, especially on social media.
What you share on social media represents who you truly are. Consider asking yourself if your posts are representing your true self there. Posts like “I hate reading” or “School is boring” are going to make a bad impression.
So, you should ask yourself: Do my posts cause any harm to a group of people? Do I want my parents, grandparents, or teachers to see these posts? Is there anything illegal in my posts? Is the content sensitive to someone’s life experience?
Social media platforms are great – they allow people to have an idea of you. Private accounts might be okay to protect your identity, but if you want your social media accounts to be in connection with your college application process, you should add more value to them.
How Many Colleges to Apply to?
According to experts, a student should apply to at least four and up to ten universities, depending on their budget.
With this in mind, students must have good wisdom about the college or university they want to join. Instead of applying to many colleges or universities and paying all the fees, you might learn to keep your application pool small, and only apply to schools you’re really interested in.
However, applying to fewer colleges might come with the risk of getting rejected from all. So, a good option might be to apply to many universities. Indeed, it’s not easy to decide on which college to apply to or attend. Follow the steps below so you can feel good about your choice:
- Create a college list
- Consider your wants and needs
- Visit college campuses
- Compare colleges and their financial offers
- Consider the pros and cons of each university
Develop a list of colleges you’re interested in, including private schools and colleges out of your state. Consider all the experiences and outcomes possible before making your final decision. Ideally, you’ll want to include 10 to 15 colleges, all of which should align with your interests and goals. Knowing what you want is very important.
An experience with a large college and plenty of campus activities and parties sounds alright, but alternatively, a more intimate college with art activities may be a better fit for you.
The internet is an incredible source for researching everything, including colleges and universities. Learn about degree programs, while getting to know all about the college, teachers, and staff.
Prepare in Advance by Conducting Effective Online Webinars
If you’re convinced you to want to go to the Faculty of Chemistry, for example, it might be a great idea to start narrowing your skills. So, enrolling in weekly chemistry tuition is ideal to help build a strong foundation and ace your exams.
More than 60% of students already attend weekly live courses! Why? Because it’s convenient, as you can learn while traveling. You have discounts, compared to physical classes, and it’s equally effective learning.
Learn chemistry online anytime, anywhere, at your own pace. With proper guidance from a good chemistry tuition teacher, you may start to understand the subject and gain enough confidence to apply to the college of your dreams.
When to start looking for a college? Realistically speaking, it doesn’t make much sense to begin your college research sooner than your junior year of high school. Ultimately, it’s impractical to accept more than one offer from universities you’ve been accepted to.
If you accept offers from multiple schools, it means you’re agreeing to attend an institution, when in reality, it’s not the case. Also, it is unfair to other students who may be on the waiting list.
Finding the right college is a long and daunting process, especially if you don’t consider preparing ahead. You need to reflect on your aspirations, and also your financial needs. By considering factors like the ones mentioned above, you will be able to find a school to which you’ll be actually happy to apply.
Eventually, the one you will go studying. Choosing a college is way more than a diploma; it’s where a student discovers multiple aspects of their life, from academic, to social skills.