Choosing The Right College

Choosing the right college is a huge task! After all, your child could be spending the next two to four years there. It will help shape their life and it will help propel you into your career. We have some tips on how to know which college is the one for your student.

Choosing the right college is a major decision that a young person has to make. Honestly, it is a lot when you think this young person has only been on the earth for 17 or 18 years. It can be a stressful time.

So many factors come into play, such as location, price, what majors the school offers and so many more. Let us give tips on what to look at when picking the right college.

Jump to:

• Location
• The majors
• College tuition cost matters
• Morals matter
• Remember

Location

Location is a serious factor when choosing a school. If your child wants save money and live at home then the school needs to be within daily driving range of your home. However, if living on campus is important to them, the school could still be close, but it could also be hours away.

That, of course, leads into the discussion the out of state cost of tuition verses in state tuition. When you add that to room and board costs, the bill is quite large. If you are interested in living on campus, be sure to check and see if your school has the room and board program. Also, always go on a college visit day to check out the campus and to get a feel of the drive, distance and travel time.

The majors

What majors and course of study work the school offers is, of course, a top factor as well. Our son wanted to study meteorology since the time he was five years old. He knew he had to go to a school that was the "University of Somewhere". A few smaller colleges in our state had broadcast meteorology but he did not want to be on television.

Knowing that, he had to choose a school out of state, 10 hours away! But the major was a particular one and that is what he had to do. Saving money was so important and planning ahead was too.

If your child knows what they want to major in, look at different schools with that major and start in state for money savings. Then move outwards. Remember just because a school offers a major, doesn't mean they are the best at it. On the other side, just because a college offers a major and isn't rated top at that particular major doesn't mean it is below par. More below.

College tuition cost matters

The cost of the tuition matters greatly in where to send your child to college. Many believe that a more expensive school means greatness in education. Sometimes.

A true story: a friend of mine told me she learned more from her community college teachers than her university professors because at the university, either a Teacher's Assistant taught the class or they were too interested in promoting their next book.

Now my son had wonderful professors at his university. He also had less than stellar professors. That said, remember, more expensive doesn't always mean better. Read the reviews, ask around, find others who can help to determine if the school is worth the cost.

Another true story: I know someone that chose a small, "non-impressive" college because she could pay cash for it instead of a school that would sound better to those who asked where she was going to college. At the end of the day, she still has the degree and has a great job. Short of Harvard or Yale, and a very specialized degree, does it matter much where the degree is from? Maybe not.

Morals matter

When choosing a college or university, morals matter. Does the school meet your standards for morals? Do they support causes you don't agree with? Do they have standards for the students? Rules they must follow?

Our daughter is an art major and as some may know, certain colleges make students draw questionable subjects. She did not want any part of that, and decided to attend a school that aligned with her morals and beliefs. It may not be the number one art program out there, but she is learning a lot and is enjoying her professors in an environment she is comfortable in.

There are so many different ways to choose the college your child attends, but hopefully these tips will get you pointed in the right direction.