Choosing a college can be a little daunting. There are so many options offering so many different courses - just how do you narrow down the perfect university? Below are just some of the important factors to weigh up.

Location

Start by considering the dream location of your college. Do you want a college that is quite close to home so you can easily visit family and friends? Or would you prefer the opportunity to live in a different part of the country? You should also consider whether a rural, suburban or city-based university is right for you. There is even the choice of studying abroad (for those that truly want their college experience to be an adventure). Location may not matter too much if you are thinking of taking an online course, but could be crucial if you are planning to study on campus.

Course modules

If you’re planning to study a fairly general subject, you may find that there are thousands of colleges offering a course in this subject. To help you narrow down your options, think about the specific things you’d like to learn about in a course and see if you can find a course that covers these. For example, different English Language courses may have different modules that cover topics like commercial writing, journalism, legal writing, English teaching, creative writing and speech therapy. You may also want to consider majors and minors.

Cost of attendance

How much are you willing to spend on a course? Tuition fees can vary significantly depending on where you study. Studying in a public university in your state could result in much cheaper fees - there may even be colleges that cost you less than $10,000 for three years, or even less if grants and scholarships are available. Some private universities on the other hand could cost you over $50,000 in total. There is also the option of online courses, which can be cheaper than traditional on-campus courses (not only are tuition fees cheaper, but you can also save money on accommodation). Make sure to also consider your funding options and decide what is affordable for you.

Entry requirements

Different colleges may demand different grades in order to be accepted. The most prestigious colleges may not accept you unless you get straight As, while others will take on most students regardless of grades. Think about what grades you are expected to get and what you think you can realistically achieve - don’t be afraid to aim high with your first choice, but make sure you have more achievable backup options.

Admission rates

Entry requirements don’t always give you the full picture as to how difficult a college is to access. Looking at college acceptance rates could help you to understand just how strict a college is and how hard you may need to work to get in. The top universities can be very competitive and it may take more than just good grades to secure a place (such as a well-written application letter and evidence of extracurricular achievements).

Campus facilities

It’s also worth considering what the campus facilities are like. The best college campuses will have plenty of accommodation, a decent library, a variety of social spaces for students, on-site cafeterias, IT support, sports facilities and mental health services. To get an idea of the quality of the facilities, it could be worth visiting the campus itself. Plan to visit on an open day and take a tour around the campus grounds. If you can’t afford to visit in person, look into whether there are virtual tours available.

Extracurricular opportunities

You should also consider what types of clubs and organizations a college has. Such clubs could be a chance to meet people with similar interests and potentially try new activities - which could include new sports. Some colleges have a vast variety of clubs, while others may only have a small choice. You should also consider whether a college provides organized trips and potentially events like concerts and comedy nights.

Internships/career services

Some colleges have great on-site career support services. This may include career coaching, resume writing, interview training and other helpful resources. Some colleges may even have access to exclusive internships. There may also be courses with sandwich years where you get to work for a local company for a year that is related to your subject - providing you with some valuable work experience to add to your education. Taking a look into famous alumni could also give you an idea as to the career potential of going to a certain university.

College rankings

The reputation of a college is also important to consider. Several publications including US News and Forbes will publish annual college rankings, which are carried out by education experts and typically assess a range of different areas from quality of faculties to student grades and pass rates. Take the time to look at these rankings to see where different universities are placed. Going to a high-ranking college might improve your career prospects when trying to attain certain jobs.

Student reviews

College rankings aren’t always a reliable indicator as to how great a college truly is. Hearing what students have to say can give you a better idea as to what it is like to study at a certain college. Consider looking into online student reviews of different colleges and courses. Such reviews can help to identify how fun the overall experience is at that college and whether students value the quality of teaching. If a college has lots of recent positive reviews from students, there’s a high chance that it’s a good place to study.

Conclusion

It’s important to take your time to weigh up all the above factors. Make a list of the colleges that tick most of the boxes and slowly narrow down your choices. This will increase the chance of you selecting a college that is not only attainable, but catered to your needs and interests. Making the right choice could result in a fantastic college experience and could help set you up for an amazing career while potentially making many great new friendships along the way.

10 Things To Weigh Up When Choosing A College