Making the Final Choice
Congratulations! If you are reading this blog it probably means you have been accepted to more than one college or university. Choosing the right college is one of the most important decisions you'll ever make. Attending the wrong school can make you miserable, while the right college can set you on a path for success for the rest of your life. So how do you decide when both schools are attractive choices?
Here's two sound pieces of advice:
1. Look at the Freshman Retention and Graduation rates in US NEWS & WORLD AMERICA'S BEST COLLEGES. These rates are true indicators of how students judge their schools. The higher the rate for graduation and freshman retention, the better the school is doing at providing a strong learning environment and welcoming culture.
2. If two schools are evenly matched in your mind, then contact the Admissions Department and tell them you wish to sit in on classes for an afternoon. This must be cleared with the instructor in advance, but it will give you a great opportunity to see the culture in action -- and not through the artificial lens of a student visitation day or weekend. You'll either click with the faculty, students, and classroom environment, OR you will know quickly that despite the great campus, financial aid package, etc., it is really not a good match.
