Saturday, November 25, 2006

Top Ten Reasons NOT to Choose a College

Deciding where to attend college is a huge decision because you will probably be spending the next four or more years there. Often times, students choose a college for all the wrong reasons and end up transferring to a different college or maybe even dropping out of school altogether. Don’t become one of those students. Here are the top ten reasons not to choose a college:

1. Your boyfriend/girlfriend is going there. Not to burst your love bubble, but chances are you are going to have many boyfriends/girlfriends after your high school relationship is over. Although you may be completely in love now and think you are going to spend the rest of your life with your current boyfriend/girlfriend, your life is really just beginning. Think of all the different people you are going to meet in college. You may get to college and realize that you want to be single so you aren’t tied down, or you may realize that you want to date someone else. Since you don’t really know if you are going to be with your current boyfriend or girlfriend forever, don’t choose a college just so you can be with that person. If you do, you may end up resenting him/her later.

2. Your best friend is going there. If you and your best friend want to go to the same college because you both like the courses and extracurricular activities that are offered, then that’s great. Just don’t choose a college solely because you want to go to school with your best friend. Going away to college means meeting a lot of new, unique people. If you choose a college so you can be with your friend, the two of you may spend everyday with each other, and you may not take the opportunity to meet other people and make new friends. Making new friends will help you grow as a person.

3. It’s a party school. While school should be fun for you at times, it is also a place for you to learn new ideas and earn a degree. If you want to succeed in life, you can’t spend all your time at school partying. You need to pick a school that is conducive to your educational needs and ignore the party schools.

4. The student body is attractive. Don’t choose a college based on how cute or pretty the students were during your campus visit. Chasing members of the opposite sex or having an attractive girlfriend or boyfriend will not help you get a college degree.

5. Your mom and dad are alumni. Don’t let either of your parents persuade you to go to their old alma mater if you don’t want to. You need to pick the college that is right for you. Your parent(s) may be disappointed at first, but he/she will get over it. You need to live your own life.

6. It has a good football team. Unless you want to be on the football team, don’t choose a college just because you like the team. While school spirit is important to have, you need to base your decision on what the school can offer you, in regards to academics, extracurricular activities, and so forth.

7. Your guidance counselor told you to pick it. Even though your guidance counselor may know quite a bit of information about a lot of schools, he probably doesn’t really know the whole you. While he can let you know which schools offer the major you are interested in pursuing, he doesn’t know your personal preferences. What if you don’t like the campus atmosphere at the college that your counselor picks? It’s best for you to take suggestions, research the schools, and then make a decision on your own.

8. The school is prestigious. Just because a school has the reputation of being prestigious, it does not mean that you are going to like it. What if the school doesn’t offer the major that you want? What if it doesn’t offer the extracurricular activity that you really want to be involved in? You need to consider aspects that are important to you when choosing a school instead of worrying about how whether or not it is a high-status school.

9. The tuition is low. Money is often a big factor when choosing a college, but keep in mind that a school that is more expensive may offer you a larger financial aid package with more gift aid (depending on your financial situation) than a school where the tuition is lower. Apply to the schools you really want to attend, including schools with high and low tuitions, and then compare their financial aid award letters in order to make a decision. Don’t forget that you can also get a student loan to help you pay for tuition.

10. It looks good in the guidebook. Do not choose a college without visiting the campus first. While guidebooks and virtual tours will help you narrow down your choices, it is important to visit your top two or three schools in person so you can get a feel for what the campus atmosphere is like.

When it comes to choosing a college, students can give many good and bad reasons why they picked a certain school. Instead of choosing a college for the reasons listed above, take the time to research schools and find out what they have to offer. You want a school that will get you well prepared for the future, as well as one where you feel comfortable.

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