Hi everyone! This post is the launch of the new college section on Two Sisters Abroad. We are so excited to be able to share our college experiences with you! For this post, I am going to be sharing some tips on how to pick the right college!
As you may know, I am a sophomore at the University of Michigan (GO BLUE!!), and choosing to spend four years here in Ann Arbor was quite possibly the best decision of my life. I have made the best friends, been challenged academically, and been exposed to a truly incredible amount of opportunities. I’m so happy with my decision, and I want everyone to have feel the same way about their school!
Tips on how to pick a college
1. Know how far you want to be from home
Do you want to be a drive away, a flight away, or do you want to live at home? Although it might be scary at first to be far away, it is also a really exciting adventure. College is about gaining independence and finding out who you are — but there no is wrong or right way to do this. However, distance from home does make a significant impact on how you become more independent. Also, keep in mind transportation costs. The farther away from home you go to school, the more expensive transportation to and from school will most likely be. Driving is much more affordable than flying, but sometimes driving is not feasible or practical. Factor in these transportation costs while thinking about the overall cost of college.
2. Think about what type of academic environment you want
Do you want an academic environment that challenges you? Do you want to always be the smartest person in the classroom? Do you only care about your GPA? Do you just want a party school? All of these questions are essential when thinking about what college you want to attend. Recognizing the fine line between challenging yourself and getting in over your head is essential. It is important to compare your GPA, test scores, and ideal class rigor to that of other current/prospective students when deciding where to apply.
3. Pick a college that has multiple majors/programs that interest you
This is especially important if you are entering college “undecided” on your major/future career path. Attending a school with multiple majors/programs that you are interested in helps to ensure that there will be courses within these subjects available for you to take. This is a more common problem with smaller schools that typically have a smaller range of majors to choose from. However it can happen anywhere. Many colleges also have “create your own major” options for students who want to pursue a major that they do not officially offer. Ask questions about this at college visits in order to see what options are available!
4.Take notes!!
If you are going on college tours, attending college fairs/info sessions then take notes! Trust me, the colleges and their programs will start to mesh together + that makes finding/remembering what you want more difficult. Even if you write a few words or sentences in the notes section in your phone, it makes the decision process that much easier. If you want to write more detailed notes in a color-coordinated notebook – go for it! Writing down the information also allows you to evaluate what aspects of the college experience are most important to you.
5. Campus Vibe
Just like the universities themselves, colleges campuses are diverse. Some schools have the classic campus you see in movies with quads and open green space, surrounded by important academic buildings. Other schools use the surrounding city as their campus, like Boston University and George Washington University. Knowing what type of campus (+location) you want is very important. Feel out the vibes when you are touring/looking online to figure out what you like, and also be sure to visit the colleges in person, if possible!
6. Sports
I go to a Big Ten school so we are very into athletics and pride ourselves on our athletic teams. Kate, however, went to a school where sports were not a big focus. Both of us absolutely love our schools, they are just different. Try and determine if school spirit/pride and good sports teams are something you want in a college. And again, GO BLUE 🙂
7. Housing
Many schools guarantee housing for first year students. Some schools require that first year students live in university housing, some require all four years. It is so important to know the student housing policies so you know what you are getting into for the next 4 years. Keep in mind, freshman housing is (most likely) not going to be luxurious — it’s part of the whole experience. Furthermore, you will want to know the average rent for apartments/houses outside of university housing if you decide to live off campus.
8. Greek Life
If you are not interested in Greek Life, totally fine. However, I highly encourage everyone to go through recruitment just to see if they like it. If going to a school with a large Greek Life presence is important to you, then you probably will already know if the schools you are considering have sororities + fraternities. If you are unsure if you want to rush, research if the college has any Greek Life at all and if it doesn’t, what are other social organizations (clubs, etc) you can join.
9. Consider tuition costs, financial aid and scholarships
Student loans are not fun, however, they are often part of the college experience. When picking a college it is really important to understand the cost as well as your financial aid package. It is unfortunate that, often, decisions regarding colleges can come down to cost, but be sure to consider how much debt you’ll be in after you graduate and if going to a more expensive school that offers you less financial aid or scholarship options is really worth it.
In some cases it may be better to graduate from a slightly “less prestigious” university with $0 in debt than to graduate from a super expensive school with $200,000 in debt. Also consider the fact that in-state tuition will, often, be less expensive than out of state. Consider on/off campus jobs and how you will balance work and school. It is also super important to keep in mind how expensive the city/town is that you will be living in. Apply for all of the scholarships that you can! Every little bit helps pay the tuition bills.
10. Trust your gut instincts
Trust how you feel about a college and make sure that you’re prioritizing your own opinions and not the opinions of others. Don’t pick a school just because your best friend is going there, and definitely don’t compare your college choice to that of others. Ultimately, you are the one who needs to be happy. If you follow your heart, and don’t get bogged down by what others think, then you will make the best decision for you!
The college search process can be stressful, but it is also really fun and exciting! Keep these tips in mind during your college search, and know that you’re going to make a great decision and have an awesome college experience!
My younger brother is a senior in high school and needs to start planning for his college life. I love how you stated that it is important to trust your own instincts and not make any decisions based on anyone else’s opinions. I think that it would be very beneficial for my brother to talk to a college planner that can help him figure out exactly what he wants and how to get it.