There is a great deal of information to evaluate when beginning a college search. Students and their families must consider cost, location, areas of academic focus or specialization, degrees and majors available and dozens of other issues. The real search begins, however, with a few “fundamentals”, and these are:
1. Will the student study domestically or internationally?
2. Will the student require and urban or a rural setting?
3. If a domestic school is chosen will it need to be in a specific state or region of the country?
4. Does the student have a preference in the size of the school?
5. What sort of tuition is in the financial reach of the student or their family?
6. Are there any specific types of colleges desired?
7. Are there any affiliations or organizations the college should have?
By reviewing these questions the pool of potential schools is greatly reduced. This will be an excellent way for a student to save time and money in application fees.
The first question is generally the easiest to answer. While there are many degrees and majors available in the United States, there are some fields of study that can greatly benefit from an international perspective and experience. These can include everything from finance and business, to history or even the hospitality industry. Once a continent has been selected the options for schools can be further narrowed by an analysis of “setting”.
The setting for a school is quite often part of its appeal. Outdoors enthusiasts tend to look at colleges and universities that are either located within such areas or very near by. For example, Colorado is a popular student choice because of its many outdoor activities and areas. While a student who likes the hustle of a city may look to New York, Chicago or Philadelphia for a school appropriate to their educational needs.
After geographic location, setting and region have been determined the pool in a college search can be further reduced by reviewing the size of the school. If a student wants a large social opportunity they may have to sacrifice smaller class sizes. However a larger student body means more resources, clubs and activities than in a smaller school with a lower student to teacher ratio.
To further refine the schools in a college search, the cost of tuition must be reviewed. While a student and their family may be counting on loans to see them through the educational process, the “real world” earnings from the degree of study or major must be taken into consideration. Many students find they are overwhelmed with college debt that their new careers cannot pay. Tuition costs, and any additional supplies, books and room and board, must play a large factor in choosing a college or university.
Finally there are many colleges that have a basis to their education and include religious or faith based schools, gender specific schools, and those that are affiliated with certain organizations such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU schools), or Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU schools) among many others. Such affiliations can often play a role in a college search.