8 Tips for Choosing the Right College - Continuing on After High School
Why Is Where I Go to School Important?
“A certificate, diploma or college degree, whether in English, math, science or history, will better equip me for the future and make me eligible for more job opportunities…right?” “So, as long as I can obtain the degree, diploma or certificate that I’m wanting, why should the school I select, as long as it’s a good one, be that important?” Not all schools are alike, all degrees are not alike and the higher education experience can vary widely from one school to another. There are other factors besides just having that diploma to hang on your wall that you should consider. We will address eight of these considerations later in this article. But, before we do, there are a few things that you should keep in mind as you do your research. Go to the Best School Possible Whether you select a college, university, vocational, trade or other specialized opportunity for higher education, try to find and go to the best school that you possibly can. Potential employers tend to be more aware of these differences and these will come into play as actual employment decisions are made. This is one of the reasons high school grades are so important – typically, the better your grades, the better your chances for getting into the school of your choice and ultimately landing the job you want Look Inside the School and Consider Your Field of Study The institution overall is important, yes, but your planned area of study is even more so. If you want to be a mechanical engineer, for example, dig a little deeper and compare one engineering department with another. If you can, visit multiple schools, talk to individuals who are involved in various ways and compare them to each other. Remember, College Is More than Books – It’s People, Too Some of your best friends, best experiences and best times will come from your years in school. We’re certainly not implying that “party schools” should be shown any favor in this regard. But, the campus life, the availability of school activities and even the city or location of the school will contribute to these experiences. ___________________ Listed below are eight factors that will help you research and round out this decision-making process.
Accreditation
Rankings and Reviews
Success Rates
Academic Support
Cost and Financial Matters
Social Environment
Extracurricular Offerings
Community Resources
#1 Accreditation Whichever type of school you’re looking to attend, it’s important to make sure that the one you choose is accredited. Accreditation is a process that institutions of higher education go through to ensure that they meet certain quality standards.
There are different types of accreditation, including some types referred to as licenses or certifications, so you will need to dig in and do some research work in this regard – both about the types of accreditation as well as the specifics that apply to schools that you are considering. Colleges and universities generally receive regional accreditation based on their location from one of six accrediting associations. These are:
Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, and the District of Columbia).
New England Association of Schools and Colleges (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont).
North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Wisconsin, West Virginia, and Wyoming).
Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Washington).
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (Virginia, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, Tennessee and Texas.)
Western Association of Schools and Colleges (California and Hawaii)
If you're considering a college or university, you can start your accreditation research by visiting the appropriate website above to determine how you will compare schools that you are considering. Beyond these college and university accrediting groups, there are many other accrediting associations or agencies that rate community colleges; vocational or trade schools; medical, dental and nursing schools; art schools and other specialized forms of higher education. Some of these accreditations are in the form of licenses or certifications. One of your first steps should be to determine the accreditation or certification process that applies to the schools that you are considering. As you begin to identify specific schools or programs, more detailed information is available on almost every school’s website. After you have a preliminary understanding of a school’s profile (and credentials), pick up the phone and contact the school’s admissions office (that’s what they are there for). There you can not only obtain the latest information about the school’s accreditation status (and the programs/courses it currently offers), but you can obtain information about their enrollment process as well. You’ll learn a lot about accreditation as you get serious about this research, and here are some very helpful resources to get you started: College Accreditation Guidebook www.accreditedschoolsonline.org Find the Best College for You (report title) www.consumerreports.org College Selection Guide www.collegereview.com Choosing a Vocational School (report title)
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