You’ve applied, you’ve received some admit letters (congrats by the way), and now you face the choice of which school to actually deposit with. But when all the options are good, how do you choose the one that’s truly the best fit? Below are few ideas on how to make that pivotal decision on where to spend the next four years.
The Matrix: Create a matrix that clearly lists everything you’re considering. Include things across the top like student-to-teacher ratios, specific majors, financial aid packages, distances from home, etc. On the left side, list the schools to which you were accepted, and fill out the resulting form. It may not give you the final answer, but you’ll see trends that weed out your weaker options.
The Overnight Visit: You’re at the mall, you see a shirt, and you love it! It’s got panache. So you buy the shirt only to realize it looked better on the rack. Should’ve tried it on at the store. The same is true for colleges. Staying at a school overnight with a student host is the best way to get beyond the school’s promotional “blah, blah, blah” and experience what the academic and social dynamic is really like. (Schedule an overnight at Centre.)
The Facebook Inquiry: This one is a bit of long shot, but it couldn’t hurt to post a question to the wall of some of your prospective colleges’ Facebook pages and simply ask, “I’m thinking of attending your college, but I was wondering if someone could comment on [INSERT YOUR CONCERN].” Of course, you run the risk of being ignored…but that can be telling of the college as well.
The Admitted Student Day: This one can be tough to swing on account of there only being so many weekends in April. Nevertheless, make it to as many admitted student days as possible, like Centre of Attention. It’s nice to have the pressure off during these events because the roles have switched since the last time you may have visited the college. Now they’re on display for you…don’t worry, it’s okay to ogle our library.
The Course Catalogue: At the end of the day you want to choose a college that speaks to your academic interests, after all, that’s what you’ll be there for…primarily. So it would serve you well to go deeper than the broad descriptions of majors presented to you initially and see exactly what types of class are offered. You’ve got to check the course catalogue and see what’s coming down the pipeline. Do these courses interest you? Why not email the professors of courses you think you’ll be taking?
Most importantly, remember to breathe. Yes, the decision of where to deposit is an important one, and it will affect your life in a dramatic way, but college is going to be what you make of it. Don’t let this moment overshadow all the opportunities you’ll have wherever you end up. College is what you make of it regardless of the campus.
