Choosing a college

Okay, today I’m going to talk about what is probably the most important investment you will ever make: your education.

Choosing a college is difficult for most people (don’t worry, you’re not alone). Most people aren’t even sure what they want to be/study yet, and that makes it hard to decide where to go.

If you already have a pretty good idea of what you want to do, definitely find out what schools are known for that area of study. You will want to get more information about these schools, and probably visit a few. If you aren’t well endowed enough financially to go to a private or out-of-state school, find out what school in your state is the best at your area of interest.

If you have no idea what you want to study, start looking at schools that are pretty good at everything. Don’t worry if the schools you are looking at aren’t the best at something, because if you’re not sure what you want to do, you will want the ability to do anything. Let me explain: most of the schools that are really good at one or two things aren’t so great at everything else; schools that are pretty good at almost everything give you the wiggle room to change your major and still to be at a good school for that major.

Now it is time to narrow down your list of possibilities to about three schools. These three should be schools that, from the information you have collected about them, seem like a good fit for you. Then, you will start the visiting! Visit each of the schools on this list at least once (I visited two or three times). You want to get a good feel for the school. Try to ask yourself, “Can I really see myself here for the next four years?”

TIP: Don’t let money play too big a role in your decision. Your education is important, and it is a valuable investment in your future. I had it narrowed down to two schools, one in-state and one out-of-state. I really loved the out-of-state school, but the in-state school offered me a full ride. I took the free education, and it was one of the biggest mistakes I have ever made. Go to the school that will make you happy, or you’ll probably have to work through the mess of transferring.