By mid-April, college acceptances will be in and hopefully, MLEC seniors will be pleased with the outcome. If they’ve been accepted to their choice college, then the decision is easy; done deal! Sometimes, however, the choice college doesn’t make the list of options and it’s hard to choose which one to attend.
If you’re not sure about what college to go to, here is a list of things that could help you make your decision:
Information Gathering for Decision Making
1. Find out what you want in a college
Make a list of characteristics that you are interested and would want in a college. Keep in mind the ideal school size, location, and extracurricular activities. Compare what you want from school to what the colleges offer you.
2. Financial Aid
Take into consideration what the total cost of attending each college will be, what the colleges are offering you, what your parents can help you pay, and what you will need to be contributing by working throughout the school year or the summer. Compare the financial packages of each of the schools to see which one best fits your budget.
3. Ask your peers
Students: Ask graduates from your high school that are currently in college or live in your area for information about individual colleges.
Teachers and Guidance Counselors: Having taught and counseled students over the years, they usually have a good idea and sense for what kinds of students do well at different schools.
Family and Friends: No one knows you better than your family and friends do, talk to them about your options, but don’t forget to listen to your own ‘gut’ feeling.
4. College visits
One of the most useful sources of information for any student is to visit the campus. College visits help you get an idea of the college environment.
Making the Decision
As you are deciding, make sure to stay calm. Remember, you have until May 1st to decide where you want to go. Here are some techniques to help you make that decision:
1. Pros and Cons
Students have found setting up charts helps them identify the pros and cons of each college. After you have done that, circle the college or colleges that have the most pros and the least amount of cons.
2. Rating Colleges
If identifying the pros and cons doesn’t give you a final decision, then list all the colleges you are considering and rate them from a scale of 1 (No interest) to a 10 (Love the school!). Then, order the colleges from highest to lowest scored schools. A few colleges should jump out with the highest score, placing you a step closer to knowing what college to say yes to.
3. Ask yourself
Ask yourself, “What does my heart tell me? What campus will I feel at home?” Imagine walking around different campuses and think about which one brings up positive thoughts and feelings. Ask, “Which ones make me feel uneasy or concerned?”
Only you can make the final decision, after all, you are the one who will be attending the school. Regardless of where you end up, success is achievable.
