Major Factors to Consider when Choosing a College or University.

 

Teenagers face many circumstances in which they must make major assessments. One major decision that arises for teens in the United States is the task of deciding which college or university to attend after graduating from high school. This decision can become extremely difficult because of the variety of options of educational institutions to choose from. Additionally, there are many factors that must be taken into consideration when making this decision. Out of all of the factors to consider I believe that there are eight major things that should definitely be taken into consideration when choosing a university or college to attend in the United States. These factors are the type of school, the majors available, the cost, the type of financial aid and scholarships available, the location, the academic standards of the institution, student life and activities available, and the overall environment and quality of the school.

 


The first principle to consider is the type of college or university the person would like to attend. With an array of options to choose from, one can make a decision that best fits their lifestyle and personal preferences. The first step in deciding the type of college is to take into consideration whether one would like to attend a private or public institution. Additionally, the size of the college or university can also be beneficial when deciding which type of college or university to attend. Some students prefer smaller scale schools for both personal and academic reasons. However, others may prefer large scale schools where classrooms have hundreds of students. For those who like closer teacher to student interaction and more personal learning experiences, they should choose to attend smaller scale school. Smaller scale schools offer a more personal experience because the professor will actually know the student as a person and not just a number amongst hundreds of faces like larger scale schools.

 

The second decisive factor individuals must consider is whether or not their intended major is available at the specific college or university in which they wish to attend. This is a major decision factor because if the college does not offer the desired career options then the student must make a different decision. With the thousands of colleges across the United States, there are a variety of majors available. However, different college and universities offer their own distinctive types of majors. Therefore, a person must be sure that their field of study is available at the college or university in which they wish to attend. For those who are undecided on which career path they would like to pursue they should opt to find colleges or universities that are referred to as a "liberal arts" school. With this option students can become enrolled as an undeclared major which allows them to start the academic process without having to actually decide on which future career they would to pursue.

 

Cost is another huge factor that must be taken into consideration because it is the financial obligation of the individual to pay the fees. Individuals who are on a low to medium financial basis should try to find colleges or universities that offer lower tuition rates. However, tuition fees are not the only fees that individuals should be concerned with; they must also take into consideration the cost of general education fees as well as other "unknown" fees that may be applied to the total cost at the digression of the educational institution. Some of the additional costs may include the cost for books, laboratory and facility fees, activity fees, parking fees, housing fees, etc. On top of tuition these extra fees can add hundreds to thousands dollars to the total initial cost, therefore all fees must be looked over to compute the actual cost.

 

The availability of financial aid and scholarships is another important factor when choosing an institution of higher education. Some schools offer a wide variety of scholarships for academic achievements that were attained in high school by the student or based on national exams like the SATs. Colleges and universities also often offer scholarships based on athletics for those who excels in sports. Along with scholarships colleges and universities often offer students some sort of financial aid to help cover the cost of education through things such as grants, government loans, and work-study opportunities. However, not all colleges or universities may offer the scholarships, and if so they may have strict academic guidelines the student must obtain in order to keep the scholarship active during their academic career. For example, many schools require their students to maintain a set accumulative grade point average in order to keep their scholarship active. Furthermore, some colleges and universities may not receive aid from the federal government to offer therefore causing less financial aid to be available to the students.

 

 

Furthermore, location may also be a large deciding factor when choosing a college or university. One should try to find an institution that is located to where they feel most comfortable to make the most out of their educational experience. Therefore, the first deciding factor would be whether the person would like to attend a college or university in a rural, suburban, or urban area. The decision is entirely up to the individual and what preference is the most suitable for their personal preferences. The student may also want to take the travel costs into consideration if they plan on driving to the campus due to the cost of gas prices in today's economical society. Also, students should take into thought whether or not they would like to attend a college within close proximity of their home or farther away in locations such as another state. Since many teens are extremely close to family and friends should opt to find a college or university within a few miles of their home if possible. Others who want more personal independence may wish to move farther away from home or even attend another college or university in another state.

 

The overall environment and quality of colleges and universities can vary greatly amongst the many that are located throughout the United States. A good college or university will provide a student with an effective and safe learning environment for their students. However, some colleges and universities have become just the opposite of that, by becoming nothing more then a place to party rather than sanctions for learning. For those persons who want to make a good decision when choosing a learning institution, they should try to avoid the party center schools and find ones that are more geared toward high academic standards. Need more information click this link

 

Additionally, individuals should also look at other types of quality factors that can help in choosing the right college or university. These additional qualifications are things such as technological advancements, housing, student oriented facilities, and accessibility to things to help further the enhancement of an educational environment. Since technology is a large part of today's society individuals should try to find colleges or universities that are up to date with the latest technological advancements because it shows the institution is a modern facility. For individuals who want to live on campus or in off campus apartments, they should look into the overall quality and availability of housing that the college or university offers. Also, one wants to see what types of student oriented facilities that are offered at various colleges and universities. Many colleges and universities offer things such as libraries, computer laboratories, a cafeteria, as well as bookstores and convenience stores to provide students with a sense of ease because things are more readily available when needed.

 

With these standards I strongly believe that it will ultimately allow the hard task of choosing a college or university become a lot easier. Although there are an assortment of college and universities across the United States to choose from this specific criteria enables individuals to find institutions that pertain to their own personal preferences and needs. Individuals essentially want to find an educational institution that fits their academic and personal needs because it makes for a better experience both in an educational and social aspect. It is very important that individuals take this criterion into consideration when choosing where to attend school because all of the mentioned factors are things some people fail to think about when searching for an institution that is ultimately the right choice for their personal as well as academic needs. Additionally, due to the fact that I have some experience in this topic I was able to incorporate some suggestive information in the criteria to help make the overall idea easier to understand.

 

Teenagers are faced with many different situations that need to be thoroughly evaluated before any form of action is executed. One major decision teenagers in America face today is the task of choosing a college or university that is right for them. However, based on the eight major factors that I have stated, the seemingly hard task can actually be made lot easier if the specific criteria I mentioned is followed with well though out planning and a great deal of consideration.