How to Pick Your College

As the first person to go to college in my family I made a lot of mistakes.  Here are some suggestion that I learned about picking your college:

1. Visit your top two or three college choices before you apply to the school.  You need to visit schools to see if you will be successful in a big school, small school, urban school or a school in the middle of the countryside.  Do you like the environment in the school.

2. There is no alternative for reason number 1.

3. Don't pick a school because the school name is familiar to you.  

4. Research colleges you don't know anything about but have strong program in the area your interested in.  If you are interested in the arts then research strong colleges with strong arts programs.  

5. Don't pick a college because your friend or girlfriend or boyfriend will be going to that college.  You have to pick a school you are going to like.  

6. Don't pick a school or not pick a school because of someone's opinion.  A lot of people don't pick a school because people are told that a school is a "party school" or "hard to get into."   You need to research for yourself. 

7. Don't give up on a school because you think it is an expensive school.  Most schools have scholarships and loans that can help you make it affordable.

8. Deadlines.  Make sure you meet all the deadlines.  There is no option to miss any deadline.  Mark it on a calendar.  You miss a deadline and you may not get into a school or you might have to wait another year.

9. Pick three schools that you have a good chance of being accepted in.  Pick three schools that might be a reach.  Make sure all six of these schools will be places you will be happy attending.  

10. Talk over with your family and mentor or someone you trust when your trying to make a decision of which school offer to accept. 

11. Don't pick your college by looking in the yellow pages.  Don't ask why.