How to choose a college in 2022
Pursuing a college degree can be a helpful step in achieving one’s personal and professional goals. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that workers with higher education make more money than individuals with only a college degree; moreover, many jobs require candidates to have a bachelor’s degree or higher.
That being said, choosing a college can be a very daunting task
Every student has a unique set of wants and needs from their potential school. Some may prioritize academic quality, while other students are more concerned with the campus culture; others, still, may have a preference for school size. Financial aid can also be an influential factor in this decision-making process.
The college search process is two-fold: (1) What characteristics of a school are most important to achieving your goals? (2) What school best encompasses these traits?
Factors to consider when choosing the right college:
There are many factors to consider during the college search process. Because different students may prioritize different factors in deciding what the “right college” is for them, it can be helpful to compare how colleges measure up in different areas of interest.
- The “What college should I go to” quiz
- Figuring out how to choose a college in 2022
- Tuition costs
- Your major
- Location
- Extracurriculars
- Campus environment
- Career resources
- Narrowing things down
- Safety
Figuring out how to choose a college in 2022
Tuition costs and financial aid
While most people are aware that higher education comes at a cost, many students and families underestimate just how high that cost can be. When choosing a college, be sure to consider the total costs of your schools of interest.
Cost
Currently, the average tuition costs of a public college are $10,388 in-state and $22,698 out-of-state. The average cost of a private college is $38,185. On top of tuition, students have to consider additional expenses like housing, food, and books, which can cost thousands of dollars a year. These costs can be discouraging to many people. In fact, almost fifty percent of families expect to go into debt from children seeking college education — and it’s not hard to see why.
Debt
For many, federal student loans and aid don’t offer enough funding to cover college costs, leaving students to go into debt as they seek financial aid elsewhere. Student loan debt in the US alone has passed $1.7 trillion and affects over 43 million borrowers. People spend decades paying off student loans; about 8.5 million American borrowers are over the age of 50. This ruinous lending system prevents millions of individuals from achieving other milestones in life, such as buying a home, starting a business, or simply using their money for leisure.
Financial aid
As college costs continue to rise in the U.S., financial aid is becoming more and more essential. Prospective students can speak with a school counselor about financial aid resources and opportunities, as well as contact their school’s financial aid office. They can also apply for federal financial aid by filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly called FAFSA. By filling out FAFSA, college students can receive financial aid packages from the federal government like the Pell Grant, a need-based grant for undergraduate students.
Your major
You’re in college to learn, so the quality of that education will be a big consideration during the college search. It’s important to choose a college that offers a major in line with your interests and goals. Once you choose your college major, it might become easier to find the right college for you.
A college major is a student’s chosen area of study to focus on in college. Academic disciplines generally fall into one of the following categories: Social Sciences & History, Biological & Natural Sciences, Business, Education, Engineering, Liberal Arts & Humanities, Performing Arts, Healthcare & Related Sciences, Communications, or Computer Science & Mathematics. Under those umbrellas are specific majors, like Biology, Political Science, or Music Education. Consider trying to gauge the career and research achievements of the faculty and staff in your target department; see if they’ve won any awards or been published.
Some colleges offer specific majors or minors that are hard to find elsewhere. Students who want to study a very specific or obscure field should research what schools offer programs in that area. Even if your desired major is a very common one, you can still compare colleges’ rankings in that category. A school may have very esteemed faculty and staff in your particular department or major. Another may offer extracurricular activities associated with the department, like a student newspaper for students in the Journalism or Communications department.
Your major may help determine if a college is a good fit for you.
Location
Location can also be a significant aspect when choosing a college, and may even be the deciding factor.
Some degree programs may be contingent on location; for example, a student studying music may want to receive their education in a city with a bustling music scene, while a student studying environmental science may desire proximity to the ecological topics of their research.
Moreover, students may simply have a preference for certain locations. Some students may desire a traditional college campus, while others may prefer a decentralized campus that is immersed in its city. Some may feel better suited to certain climates or prefer areas that are more urban or more rural. Some students may want to be close to family, while others may prefer to be far from family.
Sometimes location influences cost. Students should note that the cost of college includes more than just tuition; different cities have varying costs of living, so attending college in an expensive city will increase their overall costs.
Public colleges generally have much higher out-of-state costs when compared to the same degree, in-state. This is because most public colleges receive state tax revenue to help subsidize expenses, allowing them to offer lower tuition rates for individuals who live in the state and thus contribute to that revenue. Students and families who live in a different state from a public college (and, thus, have not paid taxes in the state) cannot benefit from this subsidy, resulting in higher out-of-state costs.
Extracurricular activities
Extracurricular activities are a great way for students to get more involved on campus, make friends, and find enriching activities outside of class. Depending on one’s interests, extracurricular activities could have a large impact on their college experience.
Many students enter college with extracurricular passions that they want to continue. During your college search, read about what extracurriculars are offered at your schools of interest. You can also use school rankings of different areas to help you compare colleges with similar offerings.
Athletics
Students who are interested in pursuing college athletics should research what types of activities are available at different institutions. If you casual and informal organization to have fun and make friends, look into intramural sports! If you want something a bit more structured and intercollegiate, maybe club sports will be your thing. Finally, if athletics are really your thing, you can try out for collegiate athletics teams; these NCAA-sanctioned teams are the most rigorous, competitive, and organized way to get involved with sports on campus.
Many collegiate sports organizations offer scholarships to skilled student-athletes. You can find other athletic-based scholarships in the ‘Athletics’ category of the Loadedbeatz.com scholarships page.
Financial aid opportunities
Some extracurriculars can earn students financial aid. There are scholarships available for college students and high school seniors with particular skills, interests, or hobbies. Your particular college of interest may even offer scholarships to their students for participating in certain extracurricular activities. On Loadedbeatz.com, you can search scholarships by category and find ones applicable to your interests and strengths.
Campus environment
Campus environment is a huge part of one’s college experience and can be influenced by many factors. From student body size to diversity to climate, the environment you’re surrounded by is an important part of your experience.
Types of schools
When choosing a college, students should consider what exactly they want from their higher education experience. Because there are so many schools to choose from, it can be helpful to narrow your search by type.
Four-year colleges and universities
Though they are often used interchangeably, there is a difference between a college and a university.
Colleges are smaller than universities and tend to focus on undergraduate studies, offering students a wide variety of academic programs. Universities, on the other hand, are larger institutions offering undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Many universities also have a special focus on research. A university can encompass several colleges, offering a wide range of fields for students.
Public colleges vs private colleges
Four-year colleges and universities can be further distinguished by public and private colleges.
Public colleges and universities receive funding from the state in which they reside, taken from state tax revenue. Because of this, public schools (also called “state schools”) are generally cheaper and larger than private schools.
Private colleges and universities get their funding through tuition and private donations. Private colleges tend to be smaller and cost more than public colleges and universities.
Putting it in perspective
It can be helpful for students to write out factors they prioritize in a school. One way to do this is to make three lists: things a school must have, things it would be nice to have, and things that are dealbreakers. These lists will look different for everyone, but they can be a helpful way to narrow down your choices.
Colleges and universities often have reputations that precede them. It’s important to note that these reputations aren’t everything; what’s important is how you feel about the school.
Safety
Not only is on-campus safety and policy a major factor when considering a school but also the safety of the surrounding area. What kinds of safety measures does the school have in place? What is the neighborhood like? Knowing the school’s policies and procedures concerning student safety can be useful in deciding whether or not it is the best fit.
In addition to federal aid, there are an estimated 1.7 million private scholarships (with a combined worth of $7.4 billion) up for grabs. On Loadedbeatz.com, there are many scholarships of all types for students to apply to; these scholarships are exclusive to Loadedbeatz.com, narrowing their application pools and boosting your chances of success!
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