Five Steps To Choosing A College

My name is Debbie Ross. The information I have about my journey in finding a college can help both parents and students alike. Going back a few years, I was at the turning point of my life. Graduation from high school was just around the corner and I had no clue which college I was going to attend. My parents had their list of colleges that I could attend, and most of my friends were already being accepted to their college or university. With deadlines for applications approaching, I knew that I had to begin finding a college. Choosing the right college is such an important decision, and so I came up with a game plan to find a college. Here are the steps I took in choosing a college.

1. Choosing my future career

The first step I took was to determine what I liked and what I did not like. I quickly ruled out being a doctor, a lawyer or a dentist. In addition, I knew there were career choices that were out of my league, such as being an architect or engineer. My high school grades proved this! Therefore after a lengthy thought process, I narrowed down my choices to Communications, Journalism, Business Management and Information Technology.

My school counselor also helped me by giving me a Career Assessment Test. This revealed many of my strengths and tendencies. From this, I discovered that I was best suited for Business Management related studies. I highly recommend this. Career Assessment Surveys are not very expensive and can be found through an internet search.

2. Matching courses with colleges

The next thing I did was to list the colleges and universities that offered Business Management studies and had a good track record. I used The Fiske Guide to Colleges. Within a short span of time I came up with a list of 20 colleges that I could see myself in for the next 4 years. All of these colleges had multiple specializations within my field of study, were fully accredited, and had good graduation rates with good reputations. I further narrowed my list down to 14 by selecting those universities which were located near a larger city, one of the criteria that I was looking for in my college.

3. Narrowing it down to my top five

I had above average SAT scores (nothing to take me to Harvard though) and therefore had a wider selection of options for myself. Therefore, my final decision would largely be determined by the funds from my parents, any scholarships or grants, and the money I could earn through on-campus work study. I visited the web sites of each college and took virtual tours of the facilities they offered. Each had its strengths -huge libraries, modern student housing, student body size, a variety of extra curricular activities and sports, and more.

I was able to narrow the list from fourteen to five based on the following criteria: going to college within 4 hours of home, my budget for college, and a smaller student body to offer a more personal approach to my education.

4. Parents and Applications

Next, I got my parents involved in my decision. They had been helping me all along the way, but I needed their help in making the final, important decisions. I showed them the list of 5 colleges that I had, including details, locations, and costs. Together, we narrowed the list to three possible colleges that I could attend. They wanted a college or university which would be easy for them to visit, but would also have excellent teaching and housing facilities. The following weekend I filled out all 3 applications and mailed out them to these colleges and universities. Now it was time to wait for the response.

5. Making the final choice

Within a few weeks, I had received acceptance letters from all the colleges where I sent my applications. In the end, my parents and I decided the best way to make the final decision was to visit the campuses. We took two days to visit all three campuses. Visiting the actual university was vastly different from the virtual tours. My final choice was actually rather easy. I decided on the University of Texas at Austin.

The most important steps along the way for me were to take the Career Assessment Test, researching my college choices online through virtual tours, and sitting down with my parents to discuss which colleges to send applications to. This helped make my final decision easier. I hope these steps can help you in finding a college or university as you make career choices.

Rich Niccolls has been a college recruiter and professor for 12 years. Read his 7 key factors for choosing the right college for you. Visit the Find A College website.

---

SAT Test Preperation; Prep Options

It's time to take the SAT's. How should you prepare?... Read More

Facing Your Fears as an Adult Returning to School

In case you hadn't noticed, career colleges aren't just for... Read More

Online Degree Program and Online Degree Programs

Online degree program is a good choice for busy individual's... Read More

Federal PLUS Loans

As a student entering college, it is very unlikely that... Read More

GCSE English I Hate the Moor Notes about Othello

The Shakespearean play "Othello" describes a cruel chain of events... Read More

Distance Learning, Online Education, Electronic Education, Electronic Learning?Call It What You Want

Whatever you want to label "learning at home" and however... Read More

Commercialisation of Higher Education in South Africa

Introduction and Literature ReviewSouth African education policies place priority on... Read More

College Entertainment for Less

Most of these activities are free or very cheap:* Campus... Read More

Student Loans ? Ensuring a Brighter Future Ahead

Higher education in the university gives students a chance to... Read More

Online Education with the University of Phoenix

University of Phoenix Online Focuses on Team LearningUnlike some other... Read More

9 Lessons for Success in College - That Actually Make Sense

Most students know what it takes to be successful in... Read More

The Family University Network: Unplugging Institutional Higher Education

Why not build a Christian family enterprise with the energy,... Read More

Online Education

I always dreamed of going to school and getting a... Read More

Online College Programs ? How to Apply

The first step to getting your online degree is to... Read More

Accredited Life Experience Degrees ? Accelerate Your Progress Online

Chances are you are pursuing an online degree to reap... Read More

Why You Should Choose an Accredited Online Degree

An accredited online degree is a college degree that is... Read More

Business and Academia!

The driving factor of any university is to make the... Read More

Chiropractic Schools

Before CHIROPRACTIC SCHOOLS accept one into their educational system, it... Read More

Why Pursue Your Degree Online?

Distance education has been around longer than people may realise.... Read More

Why Students Turn To Custom Writing Services

Plagiarism has been condemned lately by all types of experts,... Read More

How to Save Money While at College

Still struggling to pay off the college loan? Have you... Read More

CSI Has Made The Study Of Forensics An Exciting Career Opportunity

Forensics is not just one field of study but encompasses... Read More

Accredited Online Universities ? Getting Good Grades

Taking distance education courses requires more motivation and self discipline... Read More

The Oxford Student - Official Student Newspaper

Academics from Oxford University have mathematically proven long held suspicions... Read More

Who Should Earn an Online Associate Degree?

An online associate degree is a two-year general studies degree... Read More

5 Leading Online Schools

The internet has revolutionized many parts of our economy. You... Read More

How to Find Money for College Education

Many current and future college students need help to pay... Read More

Outstanding Business Professors at WVU, Part 2

Stratford Douglas enrolled at the University of North Carolina in... Read More

An Education in Saving on Textbooks

Every year students flock to the college bookstore to purchase... Read More

Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine

There are over 50 Acupuncture Schools in the United States.... Read More

How Parents Can Help Allieviate The Stress of Getting Into College

Getting into college is a stressful experience for most high... Read More

Writing Effective (and Requisite) Essay Openers

When we write for college courses, we write for an... Read More

The College-Bound Students Early Bird Menu

Many parents and students I counsel confuse Early Admission, Early... Read More