6 Common Mistakes When Selecting Colleges
College Decision Day is fast approaching, and for those fortunate enough to receive multiple college acceptances, the admissions process is not yet over. Avoid these common mistakes when selecting which college you will ultimately attend.
Focusing too much on prestige: Choosing a college solely based on its reputation or prestige can lead to disappointment if the college doesn't meet your other needs and interests. Parents often push their kids toward more prestigious schools, leading kids to enroll at a school they are not excited about.
Ignoring campus culture: Take the time to research the campus culture and student life at each college you're considering. Failing to consider the campus culture and atmosphere can lead to feeling isolated or not fitting in once you get on campus.
Over/underestimating the cost of attendance: Failing to consider the cost of attendance and the availability of financial aid can lead to financial stress or lost opportunity. Make sure you’ve accurately assessed the full cost of attendance and applied to scholarships!
Letting other people decide: Whether it’s because your parents are alumni, your significant other is already there, or your best friend also got accepted, it’s easy to let the inertia of your personal relationships decide where you go to college. There’s nothing wrong with other people having opinions on where you should go, but make sure that you choose what’s best for you.
You’re a fan: Students often select a school because they are a fan of one of their sports teams, but at the end of the day, that’s a small portion of your college experience. Take football for example - there are only 12 regular season games for college football, so if you went to a 4-year program you would see 48 football games throughout college. Are you really going to let 48 game days determine where you spend 4 years of your life?
Location: The location of the college can impact your experience and sense of community. Consider whether you want to attend college in a large city or a small town, close to home or far away, or even in cold weather or warm weather. These factors have a surprising amount of influence on the social atmosphere of a school!
A shared theme amongst these common mistakes is that students often latch onto a few minor details about a college and let that guide their decision. Don’t let that be you. Be thorough in your evaluation of your options, and make the best decision you can with the information you have!
