Choose a school that fits you well. It can be tempting to attend the highest-ranked or most famous school that admits you. But in the end, a school’s prestige isn’t the most important factor. The most important part of a college education is what a student gets out of it. Before deciding to attend a school, students must figure out what they value most in a college education. Once students have decided what they want from college, they should explore how well each school they are considering meets those criteria. Here are some questions college applicants should ask about themselves, about their educational needs, and how well the colleges they are considering meet those requirements.
- What do they want to learn more about in college?
- What style of learning suits them best?
- What sort of opportunities (like undergraduate research, study abroad, internships, etc.) excite them?
- What kind of classroom environment is most conducive to that student’s learning style?
- Does the student prefer a large or small campus?
- Does s/he want a highly competitive college or a more laid-back one?
- What type of student does best at the school?
- How well does the school support its students?
- What options does the school offer for pursuing a student’s unique interest?
- What does a student prioritize in a college education? What specific programs and opportunities does a college offer to help a student seek out those priorities?
Students need to consider these questions as they research the schools they plan to apply to, and they need to think about them further as they decide where to attend. In addition to thinking about which aspects of the college experience are most important to them, students should also compare their needs and priorities with what colleges actually offer. Thorough research and campus visits should help students narrow down their lists and see how well colleges match with their interests.
If they do a good job narrowing schools when applying, their decision of where to accept admission will be much easier. But even then, it is important not to be seduced only by a college’s name or ranking, since colleges have different strengths, much like students do.
If a student feels too overwhelmed or too unhappy at a school because it isn’t a good fit for him or her, no amount of name recognition or school prestige will make the experience any better. Students do best when they are challenged but not overwhelmed, and when they feel comfortable in their classes and on campus. Attending a college based on name or ranking alone risks ignoring how well it will actually serve the student.
Emphasizing fit helps make sure that students are able to grow intellectually and personally, which is what college is all about. By focusing on what a college applicant needs and wants out of a college education and comparing those criteria to a college’s offerings, rather than picking the best-known college, students can choose colleges that will help them thrive.
