Why colleges’ “personality” matters and how to evaluate them
Evaluating a college's personality is a crucial step when selecting which colleges to apply to and ultimately attend. However, when people talk about “choosing the right college”, they often skim over how colleges can be different and how that influences the college experience. 2-year and 4-year programs are just that - 2 or 4 years. It’s important to think about the environment you want to put yourself in! Let’s talk about several key factors to consider when evaluating a college's personality.
Demographics of the student body: One of the first things to consider when evaluating a college's personality is the demographics of the student body. Most colleges have admissions statistics that show the diversity statistics of their incoming classes. These stats might include ethnic background, the age range of students, the percentage of international students, and the gender ratio. Another (often ignored) consideration is the percentage of students that participate in varsity athletics - for some smaller schools, this can be as high as 35%, which significantly impacts the social culture. Looking into these demographics gives you a sense of the types of communities you would be joining.
Location: The location of a college can also play a significant role in determining its atmosphere. Is the college located in a rural, suburban, or urban area? This will give you an idea of the type of environment you will be living in, and the resources and opportunities that will be available to you. Do you want to spend most of your time on campus? Would you like to have a nearby city to explore? Do you want to be embedded within a city?
Popular majors: The most popular majors at a college can also give you a sense of the school's academic culture. For example, an institution like Harvey Mudd has a strong emphasis on STEM, whereas Pitzer down the street has a much stronger focus on the social sciences; as a result, these two schools attract vastly different types of students! When looking through some of the popular majors offered, ask yourself: are the majors offered in line with my interests? Will there be many other students pursuing similar majors? How soon does this school require me to choose my major?
Size: The size of a college can also have an impact on its personality. Are you looking for a large university with a diverse student body and a wide range of resources, or a small liberal arts college with a tight-knit community? Large universities tend to have more resources at its disposal, but getting access to those resources can be difficult given the size of the student body.
Social scene: Another important factor to consider when evaluating a college's personality is the social scene. What types of student organizations and activities are available? What is the Greek life like? Are there many opportunities for athletics, clubs, and extracurriculars? Also, consider the dorm life, how are the dorms? are they co-ed? are they suite-style?
What do graduates do after graduation: Finally, consider the college's track record for career preparation and job placement. Research what types of jobs and graduate programs graduates typically go into and see if they align with your career aspirations. One school might have a strong veterinary track, while another might be preparing a lot of graduates for graduate school in the social sciences. These career tracks can also influence the culture of a school; for example, schools that have many graduates going into finance might be competitive, as students are all vying for the same jobs!
Each of these key factors can be a blog post on its own, and it’s important to remember that no college is perfect. Qualities of colleges that you think are important now might end up having little to no impact on your actual college experience. It’s impossible to know! And given the intensity of admissions, many forget that the “highest-ranked” college they apply to may not be the best fit for them. Choose the environment that will give you the best chance of thriving. Take the time to research schools online, visit the campus, talk to current students, and attend college fairs to get a firsthand look at the campus culture and atmosphere.
If you found this helpful, come to our live virtual event where we will walk through how to choose a college based on some of these criteria. Make sure to subscribe to our email newsletter below to get helpful info like this in your inbox!
