Things You Need to Know about College Fit

High school students have a lot of decisions to make, and one of the big ones is selecting the colleges they want to attend. Students worry about a lot of issues, like

·       Will I have friends, or will I be able to make friends when I get there?

·       Will the college offer the right level of challenge for me? Will I struggle to keep up?

·       Will I be able to get good grades and learn what I need to get a good job?

·       Will I feel comfortable on campus?

·       Will the professors be helpful—or scary?

·       Will I be able to pay for this, or will I be in debt with student loans forever?

Good research, college visits, and talking to other students or graduates can help students find the answers to these questions, but often students and families take a shortcut make their decisions based on one of these questions?

·       Is it the lowest cost option?

·       Is it the highest ranked school I can get into?

Focusing on these two questions is often a mistake, though. Let’s look at each question.

Is it the lowest cost option?

Financial considerations are important when making your college decisions. Absolutely. Families should strive for colleges that fit their budgets and limit the need for debt. We told our kids when they went to college that their goal should be to graduate with as little debt as possible, and I believe this is good advice. And that means considering cost carefully.

The problem with this is that often (though not always as the many high quality community colleges show) colleges that cost less offer fewer student services and less academic support for students, which translates into higher dropout rates. If choosing a low-cost college means you won’t graduate, then any money you spent is a sunk cost.

A better question to ask is this: Does this college give the best value for my investment? Your tuition should cover other services that ensure you get the education and experience you want and need. Look for academic support in the form of tutoring services. Find out how available and responsive professors and advisors are if you have questions or problems. Learn about opportunities that will make your experience better and increase your likelihood of employment once you graduate. These can include clubs and teams, internships, study abroad programs, work experience, opportunities to work with professors, and research or practical experience courses (practicums). See the blog post about how to make a college decision table. LINK

Another question to ask is this: Are there other ways to cover costs? Sometimes students avoid applying to private colleges, for example, because they cost more. However, many offer financial aid packages and scholarships that bring tuition costs for students in line with state colleges. Additionally, private scholarships might help cover costs to allow you to attend the school you want, though you do have to work at applying.

Is it the highest ranked school I can get into?

We live in a world where success is defined as getting the biggest and the best. As you apply to college, it’s time to take the adult step of defining success for yourself and deciding what you want. It’s difficult to shrug off the pressures of parents and teachers, but try to step away and determine what you want your life to look like. It may be true that you need to get into a highly competitive school to get what you want and feel good about yourself. It may also be true that a smaller or less competitive school will fit your needs better.

A better question to ask is this: Does this college match my level of academic skill and drive? See the blog post on reach, match, and safety schools. LINK Finding a school that will challenge you and perhaps push you is a good idea. Choosing a school where you will feel inadequate and stressed all the time is not. Make sure the school offers the opportunities you want in terms of majors and other on-campus experiences. Make sure it offers a path to the career and life that you want. Use the blog post on creating a college decision table to help you decide. LINK

Deciding what colleges to apply to is an important step in directing your future. The application process can be overwhelming, so focusing on a few schools that are potentially right for you will make it easier to focus and proceed with the application process.