Current Students Share Advice on Making the Right College Choice
High school seniors deciding among multiple college acceptances may wonder how they can be sure they are making the right choice. It is no small decision, as this selection will affect the course of their next four years academically, professionally and socially.
The following perspectives on college choice were offered via email by three current college students who feel they made the correct decisions -- as well as one who did not.
Najah Syed, a junior at the University of North Texas, enjoys many aspects of her institution, but particularly feels that the large school environment she originally sought suits her, saying it offers freedom and flexibility.
She noted the university's policy on retaking classes that allows students to retake a class without the first grade showing up on their transcript.
"Both my academic and personal life have been extremely chaotic in the past year and a half, causing me to get less-than-satisfactory grades in a few previous classes," she says. "I am now retaking one of them and pulling a strong A, and it's great to know that I won't be punished academically because of circumstances out of my control."
[Learn which factors to gauge to find the right college fit. ]
A school's location should also be taken into account. University of California--San Diego third-year student, Sharanya Haran, noted how she enjoys the warm climate of the school's location.
Trish Duran, a senior at University of Missouri--St. Louis, ended up enrolling as a transfer student after realizing she did not enjoy the urban setting of Saint Louis University, the school she chose the first time around.
"I heard sirens constantly from the nearby hospitals, I was walking along busy streets on my way to class, and since space is in small supply in the city, student housing consisted of either expensive on-campus apartments or expensive off-campus apartments," says Duran. "These are all things that I didn't take into account when planning where to go to school."
Duran says the environment at the University of Missouri--St. Louis is more residential and much quieter.
Haran said proximity to her hometown was one of the key factors she included in her decision-making process.
"During my senior year of high school, I knew that I wanted to stay in California for college so I could be closer to home," she said. "Halfway through every quarter, I fly home for the weekend to visit my family."
In addition to weather and location, Haran strongly considered her intended major of biochemistry when evaluating schools.
"University of California--San Diego is one of the top schools in the nation for biological sciences and is a major research institute for that particular academic field."
Kiah Farr, a junior at the University of Arizona, felt the same way about following her academic pursuits and chose the University of Arizona based on her interest in the medical field.
[See how to leverage your individual data to find a college match. ]
She says she appreciates the many opportunities her school makes available that help her grow. "I have been fortunate enough to obtain and continue several incredible research assistantships and to continue my involvement in the community through volunteer work," she says.
She is the vice president of the university's chapter of Collegiate Kiwanis International, an organization she volunteers with frequently.
Duran says she relied too heavily on public opinion when making her first college choice, so she took more of her own research into consideration when deciding where she would transfer to, including identifying programs that would allow her to complete a new major in a reasonable amount of time. She switched from nursing to elementary education.
"When looking at new schools, I paid attention to programs they offer, cost of tuition, and campus environment," she says. "I knew University of Missouri--St. Louis was the right choice for me because it offered the program I was looking for, it was close to home and it was affordable."
What can you do to ensure you make the right choice? Syed suggests considering potential career paths when filtering schools.
"It is okay to not be one-hundred percent sure about a career, but high schoolers should have a general idea about their future career path so that they can choose a school with a good program in that department," she says.
[Read 3 Reasons Not to Overthink Your Final College Choice ]
Farr advises students to take note of different schools' atmospheres and whether or not they would be beneficial to the student.
"Some schools maintain a highly academic and focused environment, which could be perfect to facilitate academic performance," says Farr. "Additionally, some schools have an electric school spirit, which could be an important consideration for getting involved with your college and experiencing new things."
All in all, for a college to be the right fit, it must attend to your education and personal interests, pose benefits for your future goals and make you feel comfortable.
"Don't choose a college based on its reputation. It may be a prestigious school, but you won't get the most of your experience if it's not where you want to be," says Duran. "Know yourself, what you want, and where you will thrive."
Cathryn Sloane is a marketing coordinator for Varsity Tutors. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Iowa.
