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