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Major Decision: Finally Choosing Your College

A few tips that may help you find the college that is the best fit

April 8, 2009
Heidi Fletcher
Vice President for Enrollment Management
College of Notre Dame of Maryland

Red or yellow? Nuts or no nuts? College X or College Y (or how about College Z)? Choosing the college that your child will be attending for the next four years is a stressful time for students and their families. It’s not a time for quick decisions or procrastination, either. Following are a few tips that may help you in the decision process.

Let’s say there are three colleges that have offered admission to your child. Take a piece of paper (or Excel spreadsheet) and make three columns, one for each school. Then list the following categories: campus profile, academic excellence, student involvement, financial assistance and success/satisfaction. Let’s break down each of these areas and look at the components within.

Campus Profile

What type of school is it and where is it located? How many years has the school been in existence? What is the size of the student body? How many states/countries are represented?

Look at the college’s geographic location - not just is it in a city or in the country, but how close is the nearest airport, other colleges, the mall and so on. Learn about safety on the campus. What measures do they have in place to make you and your child feel safe and secure? These questions are great starting points to get the overall “flavor” of an institution.

Academic Excellence

A student’s intended major impacts her choice. Look to see if the first (and second and third) choice area of academic interest is offered. If your child is set on studying marine biology, an institution in North Dakota is probably not the best choice.

Look at the average class size and student-to-faculty ratio. How many students participate in study abroad or undergraduate research? Read about the faculty who teach there. Are they individuals who both inspire and challenge their students?

Student Involvement

We all know there’s more to attending college than what happens in the classroom. How many clubs and organizations does each college have, and can you identify some that specifically interest your child? What about leadership positions or training? How about athletics? Are there service opportunities available? Does this college offer exciting living/learning experiences? A college should not be selected solely on social aspects. However, you do want to try to find a place that fits your child’s interests both inside and outside the classroom.

Financial assistance

Money does matter, but as I mentioned in the last blog, don’t get hung up on sticker price alone. What are you actually getting for your money? What is the “value added” that is hard to attach a monetary figure to? How much money does the financial aid office coordinate annually? What percentage of students receive scholarships and/or need-based aid? What does the average award look like? What is the default rate of the graduating students? (This rate shows the ability of students to get employment allowing them to pay off their loans.) What sorts of jobs are available on campus? What additional fees are you likely to encounter? Remember to continue to engage the financial aid office at these schools to ensure that you are getting all the opportunities that they offer.

Success and satisfaction

Here we are looking at the general quality of life while a student is in attendance as well as outcomes after graduation. What percentage of students are employed or in graduate/professional school within six months of graduation? Is there a career center on campus that helps students with their resume and job-seeking skills as well as connecting students with job fairs and other opportunities? Are internships available? Are alumni involved in helping students to network?

Look for information about the results of the college’s National Survey of Student Engagement (it should be on their Web site) as this document will provide insights into how both freshmen and seniors rate their college in a variety of areas. Generally, you’ll want to make sure that students are obtaining opportunities that allow them to be successful after graduation.

Visit the schools again. Every college has some sort of event for accepted students - you should definitely attend. This will not only help you to learn even more about the school but also allow you the opportunity to meet your child’s future classmates.

And then, if you can, do an unofficial visit. If the school is a long distance from your home, just go a day early or stay a day after the official visit. This will help you get the real feel for the campus. Is the food the same as you experienced at the “capture” event? Is the campus as pretty and full of life as it is portrayed? Talk to students - ask questions -to get the real feel for campus life. Both of these experiences will help you in the decision-making process. I’d also suggest you take photos or notes during these visits. It will help you to remember details later.

Look back at the lists and the columns. Talk and talk and talk some more about all of these things. And know that there’s rarely a wrong choice. Wherever you attend - as long as it has many of the things you are looking for - will be your college. Then, it’s what you make of the experience that counts. Which is what we’ll talk about next month. Oh, and don’t forget that those deposits are due on May 1. You don’t want to forfeit your spot by missing that deadline!

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