Finding The Right College For You

What do you want to do with your life? This nearly impossible question has plagued students everywhere across America. A good place to start is to decide what you like to do and then look at careers that use those skills. Do you like talking to people or do you prefer working alone? Are you good with numbers or facts, or do you enjoy writing? Once you have a list of skills you need to determine which professions use those skills. A good place to look is the U.S. Bureau of labor Statistics Occupational Outlook handbook. It provides job descriptions, and lists skills used but more importantly it also projects demand for that job so you don’t end up graduating with a skill that will be hard to market.  Once you’ve decided on a profession, you can narrow the question down to what college should I go to? And, what should I study?

Here are some things to consider while making your decision.

• Online Or Traditional – One of the hardest things we have to do in life are making career choices, since they will have an impact on us for the rest of our lives. One of those choices is going to a college in person or doing it online. Consider what you want, and then consider the barriers for each decision. If you are a single mother, have a full-time job, or want to save money then an online college would be more appropriate. You can always transfer to a “bricks and mortar” college later. If you are more interested in sports teams and the social aspects of going to a physical university, then a traditional model will be a better fit. But remember college is an expensive way to socialize. Remember, the average college education costs as much as your first house.
• Pick A Major — Now that you have decided what type of college you want to attend, what do you want to study? What do you want to be the expert in? Is it nanotechnology? Is it American Literature? Choose you major, and remember that you may change your mind, so have a second pick, since this will be what you will want to minor in. Use these two picks to create a list of colleges that offer plenty of courses in the subject matter.Remember that picking a major is the most important one since if you are willing to start a career path is a must to think that you will be doing these tasks until retire and doing what you don’t really love will turn into bad humor which will affect the people near you (family, friends and coworkers).
• Quality Of Education – at the end of the day, or at least at the end of your program, you should be an expert in the field you choose to study. There are varying levels of educational programs across the many colleges, so once you have decided your major and minor, then check to the see how credible and solid the quality of education is.
• Employment – Consider the employment rates of students in your field and what this will mean for your life goals once you finish your program. Are you going to go on to do an advanced degree? Are you going to do an internship or try to start work right away? Are you already employed and getting your education to advance your current career?
• Costs – What are the costs for housing and tuition? Are their scholarships? Can you afford to attend your first pick? What is the job market like. Do you plan on working part time?
• Do You Qualify? – Now that you have all your research notes together mapping out your future goals and plans, are you able to gain admission to your college of choice. To ensure that you have plenty of options, it is good to apply to at least 3-5 college if you are facing a lot of competition, or if the college is less competitive like some of the online colleges where acceptance is guaranteed, then factor all these aspects into your decision.

So what college is right for you?

You should now be well on your way to getting accepted into a program if you follow these guidelines for choosing a college. Remember, college requires a lot of hard work, and just getting into college can often be the toughest battle to fight. So if you want to go to college, stick to your guns, follow these steps, and don’t give up until you are the expert in your field and doing what you want to do. This may not happen overnight, and rarely happens right away, but these careful steps to planning can be a guide for years to come!