The college decision process is a stressful one. You might have spent hours researching colleges, thinking about your future, and working hard to get into the right one. But once you’re there—once you’ve made the commitment to attend school at this university or that one—you need an extra boost before going all-in on your education: getting into college. There are lots of factors that go into getting accepted by a school, but here are what I consider most important: location (where will you live), size (how big is it?), prestige (did they win all those awards last year or just claim they did?), flexibility (can you take classes from home?) and activities (do they offer clubs like knitting circles?). In other words: do these factors matter more than others?
Location
Location is important, and it’s one of the most obvious factors in selecting a college. The location of your college can have a big impact on where you live, how long it takes to get around, and what kind of commute you’ll have.
If you want to live in a big city like New York or Washington DC, go for an urban campus like NYU or Georgetown. If you want something smaller but still very close-by (within walking distance), check out Colgate University in Hamilton, NY; Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster PA; Williams College located near Williamstown MA; Wesleyan University located near Middletown CT.
Size
Smaller schools are more likely to have a community feel, and smaller schools tend to be able to offer individualized attention. Smaller schools are also more likely than larger schools to offer leadership opportunities for students, who may become involved in extracurricular activities or clubs that give them an opportunity for leadership.
Smaller colleges tend to have smaller class sizes (about 20 students per class) than larger colleges (about 50 students per class). If you’re looking for the best educational experience possible, consider a college with fewer students or one where your professors will get personal with their teaching styles because this could lead to better student-teacher interaction as well as improved grades.
Because small colleges are more likely to have a community feel, they may be more likely to offer students the support and guidance they need. If you’re looking for an intimate college experience, consider the size of your school before choosing a college.
Prestige
Prestige is a measure of your college’s reputation. In the United States, colleges are ranked by U.S. News & World Report based on factors such as student satisfaction, faculty quality, and affordability.
Prestige can be a good thing or a bad thing—it depends on what you want from your college experience and how much money you’re willing to spend on tuition and other expenses like food and lodging. For example, if you’re looking for an elite liberal arts college where students take lots of challenging classes but have limited extracurricular opportunities (like clubs), then high prestige might not be as important to you as having access to top-notch professors who offer engaging classroom experiences daily in addition to offering opportunities outside class time through events like keynote lectures or guest lectures by prominent figures in their field outside academia (which would likely cost extra). If all this sounds too expensive for someone just starting out with no job lined up yet then maybe prestige isn’t worth considering right now!
Flexibility
Flexibility is key to getting into college. There are many ways you can make sure your schedule is flexible, including:
- Class scheduling: Choose classes that fit your schedule and don’t conflict with other commitments. If a class conflicts with another class or activity, try to find an alternative time slot in the same class if possible (e.g., Sunday mornings).
- Course selection: If there’s something that interests you but doesn’t fit into the general requirements of a particular major or minor, consider taking it as an elective—or even just putting it on hold until after graduation! This will allow for more flexibility later on when applying for scholarships and grants versus having to take all required courses when applying for admission decisions (which are usually based solely on GPA).
And finally…financial aid! You won’t need much money saved up before starting college because most schools offer low-cost/no-cost tuition options through their financial aid office; however, there may be certain costs associated with living off campus such as housing fees which can add up quickly depending upon location & length of stay etcetera…so plan ahead accordingly.”
Activities
- Choose activities that you enjoy. Your college experience should be fun, but it’s even more important to find an activity that you truly enjoy and that will keep you engaged throughout the semester. If this sounds like a problem for you, then choose an activity that requires little-to-no preparation or effort. For example, if your favorite pastime is watching football games on TV with friends (and eating pizza), then consider joining a club at school where they meet up before or after practice each week to watch their team play!
- Choose activities that will help meet new people. Another great way to make friends is through volunteering together—and there are lots of opportunities for this in almost every city! Volunteering can also provide valuable skills training without costing money; many organizations offer volunteer positions specifically geared toward college students who want practical experience in their field while still having fun doing so!
School Spirit
School spirit is a big factor in college admissions. If you’re looking to get into college and want to meet new people, then school spirit can be an important part of your search process. You might even find the perfect fit for you in this way!
Using school spirit to help you get into college can be a great way to find the right place for you. It’s also important to know that school spirit isn’t just about cheering on your favorite sports team or singing at pep rallies. It’s about being part of something bigger than yourself, something that makes you feel proud of who you are and where you come from.
Choose the right college based on what you need and want, not what others want for you.
Choosing the right college is important, but it’s not as simple as choosing a college because that’s what everyone else has done.
If you’re looking to get into a specific school, then yes—you should look at their ranking and acceptance rate first. But if you have your heart set on getting into an Ivy League university but don’t have any interest in engineering or biology, then maybe it would be better for you to seek out an alternative that fits your interests better than those offered by these elite institutions.
There are plenty of good schools out there! Don’t let yourself get boxed into thinking that only certain colleges will give students what they need or want from them (or vice versa). Instead, choose based on what makes sense for YOU and YOUR goals—not someone else’s idea of what might work best for THEM!
The Bottom Line
As you can see, there are many different factors to consider when deciding on a college. Whether it’s the location or size that you want in your college experience, make sure to look into all the options available to you before making any decisions. Don’t forget about extracurricular activities and school spirit either! Good luck!
