We’ve all had that pair of shoes that didn’t fit quite right. The ones that rubbed against our heels or pinched our toes. Or maybe slipped when we walked, forcing us to take each step with caution. We knew when we tried them on they weren’t a perfect fit, but we bought them anyway because they were a brand name or maybe because we were too busy or simply unmotivated to shop around and try on more.
Like shoes, colleges are not one-size-fits-all. And students often choose their college based on its brand reputation or out of convenience, rather than on whether or not it fits their unique academic, social and financial criteria.
Here are some questions I encourage rising juniors and seniors to consider when evaluating colleges:
- Where will I be able to study what I want to?
- Where will I be able to pursue the activities I enjoy?
- Where will I find like-minded people ?
- Where will I find the right pace of life for me, academically and socially?
- Where will I be motivated to succeed?
- Where will I find the support system I need to help me achieve my goals?
- Where will I feel at home?
Students usually find that more than one college is the answer to these questions. That’s great! They then have a list of colleges to apply to that they can narrow down to their top choice once they have visited campuses, received acceptance letters and gotten their financial aid packages.
But the first step is to go shopping. Research colleges, visit campuses (virtually for now), and use the questions above to try them on for size.
