5 Tips When Making A Final Decision About College

5 Tips When Making A Final Decision About College Making A Final Decision About College: 5 Tips from a San Diego College Tutor Making A Final Decision About College: 5 Tips from a San Diego College Tutor High school seniors are currently thinking about which schools they will apply to. Hopefully, at this point in the year they have chosen roughly 10 schools they want to shoot for. One of the things students probably arent thinking about this fall is which school they will ultimately choose. Of course, students who get into their dream school wont have much of a decision to make but the majority of students will end up choosing between two or three universities that could be an ideal fit. So when it does come time to make that final decision, and a four year commitment, what should students be thinking about? 1. The Campus Culture The campus culture is one of the most important aspects of collegiate life overall. Some universities offer a warm and welcoming campus culture with a variety of different students and tons of things to do. On the other hand, some campus environments can feel a little bit industrial or too spread out to form lasting relationships or enjoy on-campus activities. Neither culture is right nor wrong, it’s just about whats best for an individual student. Some students will want to take classes, work at the library, and then go home as soon as possible. Alternately, other students will prefer an all inclusive campus environment where they can essentially get everything they want without having to leave until it comes time for Thanksgiving break (Read: 4 Apps to Help with Concentration). 2. The faculty Students who are torn between two or three universities should consider the faculty. Some universities have a reputation for an involved faculty who will spend their free time having a cup of coffee with students to discuss the philosophical elements of their education. Other universities, especially those with a heavy research base, may encourage their professors to spend more time in the lab and less time with students.  Some campuses will have a large amount of full-time professors who generally have more time for students. Others will have a large number of adjunct (part time) instructors who need to teach at multiple universities to make ends meet. Again, no single situation is better or worse, its more about what the student is looking for. 3. The peer group Some colleges have a reputation for a highly social extracurricular life while others are known for students who spend the majority of their Friday night at the library. A shy student might be miserable at a party school while a social butterfly might not know what to do with their free time in a highly academic environment. In addition to thinking about the social aspect of college, students might also want to think about the student demographic. Some colleges have students from every state as well as from multiple countries, providing a diverse experience for students. Other universities may only draw from a specific state or region, creating a similar peer group (READ: 5 Things to do Before You Go Away to College). 4. The academics Although students have probably already thought about academics when applying to schools, its something they should revisit before they make their final decision. Some universities have a reputation for academic excellence that might help students get into graduate school later on. Other universities have a reputation for helping students develop professional skills, which they can utilize in the workforce upon graduation. Additionally, students who are applying undeclared should think about how many departments the university has. Because undeclared freshman will wait to choose their major until their junior year, they may be better off at a university that offers a wide variety of majors, so that the student isnt faced with the reality of transferring or ending up in an undesirable field later on (READ: College Scholarships 101: Burgers and Donuts?). 5. The connections All other things being equal, students may wish to think about the connections they can form, or not form, at their top choice universities. For instance, some universities have a reputation for an active alumni community where students can go to receive job opportunities and references. On the other hand, some colleges lack the networking environment needed to make lasting professional relationships with peers and alumni. All blog entries, with the exception of guest bloggers, are written by Tutor Nerds. Are you an education professional? If so, email us at pr@tutornerds.com for guest blogging and collaborations. We want to make this the best free education resource in SoCal, so feel free to suggest what you would like to see us write.