| College almost seems inevitable nowadays. If | | | | closer anyway so why not start out closer to |
| you want to find a good paying job you have | | | | home and avoid the hassle. |
| to do it. But where do you go? Picking the | | | | |
| right school doesn’t have to be a | | | | Third, after you've picked your field of |
| hassle. Just follow a few simple guidelines. | | | | interest and narrowed it down to the area |
| | | | you’d like to stay in, you should try |
| First, keep in mind you don’t have to | | | | and find out if there is an active social |
| go to an Ivy League school to get an | | | | scene or what services are available to |
| excellent education. Although rankings can | | | | students. Interaction is important and if you |
| help you determine which schools are more | | | | know going to a school full of bookworms is |
| respected or well-known it doesn’t | | | | not going to suit your personality then the |
| necessarily mean it’s the only criteria | | | | school will probably not be a good fit. |
| you should use. Remember part of the ranking | | | | Likewise, if you are someone who needs |
| process includes opinions from industry | | | | additional help like tutoring services or you |
| professionals and how selective the | | | | want a school that will help you find a job |
| school’s admissions department is. More | | | | when you graduate then you need to look into |
| important for you is to find out about the | | | | the schools on your narrowed down list and |
| department you’re interested in and | | | | see which is best. |
| then pick according to how respected that | | | | |
| program is. | | | | Remember you’re picking a school where |
| | | | you’re planning to dedicate the next |
| For example, Ivy League School A may make the | | | | four or five years of your life. The most |
| top of the rankings every year but when you | | | | important thing is to know your own |
| investigate their biology department you | | | | personality, strengths and weaknesses well |
| discover that their college of science | | | | enough to figure out what’s best for |
| isn’t as well respected as a local | | | | you at this point in your life. Some colleges |
| public university in that field. Always base | | | | offer more student assistance then others, |
| your decision on what it is you want to do. | | | | some have better parties then others, some |
| If you haven’t decided and you want to | | | | have a better curriculum but what |
| explore a bit then you probably at least know | | | | you’re looking for is the right |
| if you want to major in a liberal arts field | | | | combination of everything that works for you. |
| or science so pick accordingly. Also make | | | | |
| sure to visit professional directories or | | | | A good example of this is a major like |
| licensing board websites if available to find | | | | Architecture. If you know from the beginning |
| out what schools they endorse if your degree | | | | you want to stay close to California and you |
| is something you’ll need to receive | | | | have your heart set on studying Architecture, |
| licensing for before you can practice. | | | | knowing that this is something you must be |
| | | | licensed to do, you can search for the |
| Second, figure out how far from home | | | | accreditation board that approves |
| you’re willing to move. If you like | | | | architecture programs and look for schools |
| your family and friends and can’t | | | | within a certain region as far north as |
| imagine not spending the holidays with them | | | | Washington and as far east as Arizona. Just |
| or seeing them on a regular basis then | | | | doing these two steps will narrow your list |
| don’t move to New York if you’re | | | | to just five schools in California and a few |
| from California. After six months | | | | Universities outside the state within your |
| you’re going to get homesick and may | | | | specified region! Try it for yourself. |
| end up transferring to a college that’s | | | | |