Now that March comes to an end, high school seniors have heard back from their universities. Yes–after millions of applications and four years of hard work, you’re finally at the point where you can start selecting your university.
However, for most people, this is harder than they might initially think. This is for several reasons, from not getting into a first choice university to falling in love with an underdog university.
And it’s not bad to seriously debate this or feel uncertain! Some people have known what school they want to go to since they were a baby. The vast majority end up seriously deliberating it before they finally make the jump. With that being said, here are some tips to help you when selecting your university.
Look into What’s Important for YOU
You’re the one spending the next four years at this university. Not someone else!
There will be tons of opinions on where you should attend school. You should definitely listen to other people’s perspectives. However, at the end of the day, it’s your decision, not theirs.
So, before you hear too many outside voices, focus on your own. What do you want out of this experience? Are you looking for the most competitive academics, or do you prefer good connections and work experience? Do you want a classic school, or are you open to a newer-feeling campus? Would you prefer a small school or a big school? A faith-affiliated campus or a public school?
The choice is yours, and it is something that you should do thoughtfully. Usually, coming up with your key values helps.
Make a List of Where Your University Ranks on Key Areas
Selecting your university will require emotion to a large degree. However, it also helps to be logical. And what’s more logical than a list?
Whether you’re an Excel person or a notebook person, I recommend making a checklist with the following categories. Research and check off whatever each school meets and compare at the end. If you want to add your own categories (maybe from your values above), feel free!
Money
For many, cost is an important factor. Universities are expensive! While FAFSA, school scholarships (check out my article here if you go to SDSU), and external scholarships definitely help, there usually still is a price tag attached, and you don’t want to carry debt around your whole life. Your education is most certainly an investment. However, it is one that you should make carefully.
In my opinion, it is not worth it to go to a school simply for the prestige if you’ll have to slave away the rest of your life to pay for it. Or if you are set on this and don’t currently have the financial means, consider whether going to a community college or securing additional scholarships might be worth looking into.
The bottom line is that money matters when selecting your university. There are tons of scholarships out there, and you won’t know what you can get until you apply. Exhaust all of those financial aid options to make your dreams come true. Just don’t set yourself up for a lifetime of stress.
Location
If you’re going to spend the next four(ish) years of your life at this university, you want to like it! Location is critical to this. Are you looking at a small town university when you already get bored in your big city? Or do you prefer the college town vibe?
What natural features do you like? Do you want seasons, or do you prefer it to always be warm?
Would you like to remain close to your hometown, or do you want some distance from your family?
Do you have any health conditions (i.e., allergies) that may be affected by the climate there?
Location truly does make a big difference, and I personally advise against selecting your university without considering this or listening to your gut.
Academics
Where does your school rank on academics? Be sure that it has a program that you’re interested in. Are there useful advisors? Knowledgeable faculty? Opportunities for growth?
Additionally, if you’re applying to a school like Cal Poly SLO, do you have a major that you actually want? Make sure that you know everything you need to about potentially switching your major if that isn’t the case.
There’s a ton to consider when it comes to academics, so be sure to do your research and make sure that your university offers what you want and need to be successful.
Social/Campus Life
Like with location, the campus makes a huge impact. What social opportunities do they have, and is it your vibe? This isn’t necessarily a question of whether or not it is a party school, but it is a question of what the culture is.
Additionally, what do you prefer? A big school or a small school? A close-knit community or one where you can meet new people every day? Put a check next to whichever school meets your ideals.
Safety
Campus safety is important, no matter who you are. This ties into location, but it deserves a point of its own. What are the statistics on sexual assault on the campus? If you’re part of a minority community (LGBTQ, BIPOC, etc.), how safe has the community historically been? All of these are important to consider in advance.
Career Opportunities/Networking
When selecting your university, you also need to look at what comes after. Look into your school’s opportunities for internships, career development, networking, and career search help.
Do they have what you want? If so, check that box.
Eliminate the Schools You Don’t Care About Early
If you followed the typical application strategy, you probably applied to your easy, target, and reach schools. You probably also applied to a ton of schools, including safety schools. If you know that you’re not going to these, don’t waste your own time.
Cross those off your list and rank your other schools. If you still can’t give them exact numbers, put them into high, medium, and low. That should at least give you a visual about where you’re leaning toward the remaining schools.
Visit Universities if Possible
If you have the financial means and time, try to visit as many schools as possible. This is the best way to envision yourself on a campus. You’ll get to see the students, facilities, surrounding areas, and hopefully meet some of the faculty. Many schools also host exploration days around Spring Break.
The next best alternative is to attend student orientation/welcome programs, find videos like “a day in the life,” and research what current students are saying about the school. Keep in mind that most people have a motive for posting, and the loud ones usually have a stronger opinion about something than the general population.
Basically, learn everything you can about each school to help inform yourself!
Give Yourself a Deadline
Of course it helps to know all of the official deadlines for each school when selecting your university. However, it also helps to give yourself a deadline to make a decision. This helps you to mentally prepare. It also helps you to not drag it out.
This deadline should be reasonable. It shouldn’t be, let’s say, a week. You should have time to research, mull it over, and approach your final decision confidently. Go to those open houses, ask around, think about it. Just stick to the deadline you set.
Know That This Decision Isn’t Necessarily Final
For those of you who are afraid of commitment, read this.
There is almost always a way out. If you (for some unlikely reason) end up hating your university or things change, you can usually transfer. If you didn’t get into your top choice and would rather go to a community college first, you can do that, too.
Most people end up staying at the university they select, yes. But there is always a good handful who wants to make a change. If this ends up being you, it is possible, and it is okay. So please realize that you’re not locking yourself in 100%!
Realize That You Will Be Okay
Selecting your university is scary. Not only are you jumping from childhood to adulthood, but you’re also venturing out on your own. Sometimes, it feels like there’s so much weight resting on this one decision.
It might ease your mind to know that it’s not actually like that. Choosing a university that fits you is important, yes. However, as I mentioned above, you can always transfer out if you need to, and a lot of times, you find that you come to enjoy whatever your decision might be. After all, you don’t always know what the alternative would have looked like.
I look at it this way: as long as the people aren’t unbearable and the professors generally know what they’re talking about, your university experience will likely be at least okay no matter where you go. A lot of college, as cheesy as it sounds, is what you make of it.
If It Really Comes Down to It, Flip a Coin
I know. It sounds ridiculous. But sometimes, it really does come down to it.
So flip that coin. You’ll know how you really feel when the coin lands. That’s where your gut is leaning, and your gut is right 99% of the time.
A Final Word
Selecting your university is complicated. There are so many factors to consider, and emotions often run high during this period. However, once you look at it logically and listen to your gut, you will be able to confidently make the right decision for yourself. Best of luck with your college journey, and check back on Dreaming Upwards for anything you need related to the college experience!
Photo Credit: Photo by Javier Allegue Barros on Unsplash
