The Art and Science of Finding a College

Finding the right college and gaining admission to thatinstitution is arguably the most important challenge facingyoung adults and their parents. The high cost of tuitioncombined with intense competition makes choosing the rightcollege, university, or technical school difficult. Whether your interest is in the arts or sciences, whether youare seeking sports opportunities or knowledge in a technicalfield, there are many tools available to help you make yourdecision and find the learning community that best suits yourneeds. Even if you haven't decided upon a major, finding acollege is an important first step that will set the foundationfor your future career path. Finding the perfect match is a matter of patience and planning.Here are some areas to think about when finding a college:* Location - Do you want your college experience to be anopportunity to strike out on your own, o...

...r is it important to youto remain within a reasonable driving distance of home? Do youthrive in an urban environment that has access to a rich varietyof cultural venues and the arts, or do you prefer a settingthat's more bucolic and low-key?* Size - Are you seeking the diversity of a large student body,or do you prefer an environment with fewer people? Is your fieldof interest so specific that course offerings can be found atonly large colleges and universities, or do you place moreimportance on the accessibility of faculty to the student body?How important is the size of the college's library? All of thesefactors should be considered when finding a college. * Housing - Will you be commuting from home, or living away fromhome? If you were living away from home, what housingopportunities would best suit you? If you interested in dormlife, does the college have adequate on-campu...

...us housing, or isthere a waiting list? If you're more likely to live off-campus,is there a housing shortage in the community? What is the goingrate for apartments, and how does that fit into your budget?* Cost - Although there are a myriad of financial aid optionsavailable to students who qualify academically, cost is certaina consideration when finding a college. A community college orstate university may be more feasible than a private college oruniversity. Although student loans are available, being facedwith an enormous debt upon graduation is less than desirable.Once you have gone about the task of finding a college and havenarrowed your choices, you need to work on getting admitted tothat institution of higher learning. You may wish to engage aservice that will help you define your goals, gain admission tothe school of your choice, and transform your dream into areality.