Information provided by Kaptest.com
Yikes! Between all the unsolicited mail you're getting from
Noidea U., college fairs, and everyone you know offering their
opinions, how do you evaluate which school would be best for you?
Here are 10 handy guidelines to follow to avoid common pitfalls
and make the right decision.
10. Pay little (if any) attention to
school rankings.
There are as many ranked lists of colleges out there as there are
colleges themselves. You shouldn't put much credence in these
—they're way too subjective to give you any valuable insight into
a particular college or university. And they change drastically
year by year.
9. Also, ignore the student/faculty
ratio.
Trust —it's not going to matter whether there are 4 or 400
students in your biology lecture class. Generally, the
student/faculty ratio reported by campuses is meaningless; it's
an average: there are going to be far more students in an intro
level lecture than in, say, a freshman writing workshop. (But do
pay attention to what percentage of classes are taught by grad
students —if it's high, be wary).
8. Some stats are worth
noting.
Namely, you'll want to know a school's freshman year retention
rate (should be 93% or better) and the alumni giving rate (should
be around 60%). These both reflect how students feel about the
school —whether they like it enough to stay, and then whether
they remember it fondly enough to give money back in the future.
If you're applying for financial aid, check the average
percentage of demonstrated need met —it will tell you more than
just the dollar amount of the average aid package.
7. Comfort matters.
This is where you will be living for at least 4 years. Is the
food edible? Does the school guarantee housing? How are the
dorms? Are the bathrooms clean? If you don't think you'd be able
to live there, you probably shouldn't try. This is why campus
visits are so important.
6. Ask about other
colleges.
This is a question for an admissions officer. You should ask,
"What other colleges would I be interested in?" It's not
necessarily something to bring up at an admissions interview, but
on a standard campus visit, it's a good way to gauge the type of
school this college sees itself as being, as well as a good way
to expand your list of target schools.
5. Check campus crime
statistics.
New federal legislation requires colleges to produce and report
campus crime stats. Try to read between the lines on this one —if
you are in love with a school that has a "high" crime rate, do
some investigating —that rate could be attributed to nothing more
than a rash of bike thefts. Don't hesitate to contact campus
security on your own to discuss this.
4. Talk to alumni from your high
school.
Or contact someone from your high school who's currently
attending a particular college or university. Asking just any
student at a college their opinion of the school can be helpful,
but it doesn't offer the same insight as would someone who comes
from the same town, same school, etc.
3. How wired is the
campus?
This goes beyond the number of computers in the school's computer
lab. Is there a T1 connection in all dorm rooms?
2. Check that price
again.
A state school at first glance may seem a fraction of the cost of
a private college or university. But do students at state schools
generally graduate in four years? As a rule, not many do. Check
that state school's four-year graduation rate before choosing it
over a private school for cost reasons.
For more tips on financing your college education, click
here.
1. Identify the 3 most important
attributes of the ideal school.
You should spend time thinking about the "must-haves" of a
college. For some, location is an important factor. For others,
size (big or small) is a consideration. Some students don't mind
if their school doesn't focus on athletics if students seem to
have a strong interest in intramurals.
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