How to Choose a College

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By Gretchen Lee Bourquin
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Article Rating: (4 Ratings)

Whether you're 16 or 60 a college education can enrich your life, and with the current economic crisis it's always a good idea to expand your options, and going to college -- or back to college is a good way to do this. But there are so many,with varying offerings, costs, and reputations. How do you decide which is right for you?

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Self-Reflection
Questions
Goals

Step 1

Do a little self-reflection. What types of things are you good at? What do you like to do? What types of positions intrigue you? You may be tempted to just go for something "safe." but don't ignore your own interests. College is an investment of more than money. You want to like what you do.
Step 2

Think of where you are in life. Are you a high school student or someone re-entering the education realm after a hiatus? Are you a good candidate for scholarships? Do you want to stay close to home, or do you need to get away? Do you need to have a flexible schedule? Make a list of things that are important to you as you choose a college.
Step 3

Talk to a career counselor or take online career tests. They may be able to help you achieve the balance between doing what you want and tweaking your skills to the job market.
Step 4

Form a list of colleges to research. Go to their websites and get as much information you can about them. Don't forget to check their accreditation. Employers, other colleges, and financial aid administrators will often not take an unaccredited education seriously, regardless of what you learned.
Step 5

Consider holding off on your "dream school" for a couple years and getting your Associate degree at a local Community College. Community Colleges often have transfer agreements with 4 year Universities in the state.
Step 6

Carefully consider trade school options. If a full degree is not your cup of pencils-- for whatever reason, a trade school might be an option. But these credits often don't transfer to a traditional college setting, so check into your chances of actually working in that field before you proceed.
Step 7

Consider Online Colleges. Many of the online colleges and Universities are catered to the older student, may restrict younger student enrollments. It can take additional self-discipline to study outside the traditional classroom, but the virtual classroom offers a lot of flexibility for those with families and/or day jobs. Again, always check accreditation. While there are many reputable options, there is a good share of "diploma mills" out there as well and their degrees aren't worth the paper they're printed on.

Comments

KuanShiYin said

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on 2/16/2009 The last step is something we wouldn't have heard much about 10 years ago, and might not have considered even a few years ago. However, it's a viable option now.