| I always remember thinking, what's the big deal, it | | | | devote a whole lot of space to the country's elite |
| is only college? These days, it is a big deal, and | | | | universities. Which is great if you plan on choosing |
| higher education is a competitive market for your | | | | a school based on reputation. But there are other |
| attention. Just remember it is easier to pick a | | | | factors to consider. |
| college than the high school advisors, college | | | | It is appropriate, a great idea even, to pick up a |
| guides and your parents make it out to be. Relax, | | | | college guide and review the entry on some of |
| take a deep breath and keep in mind these four | | | | your school choices. Better yet, do it online. Most |
| indisputable truths about choosing a college. | | | | guides have an online component, and so what if |
| 1. A Little Information Goes a Little Way | | | | you have to register to view it. You are going to |
| I was not well prepared for selecting a college. My | | | | spread your name around liberally during the |
| parents did not properly instill in me the need for | | | | application process anyway. |
| selectivity and criteria, though they might be | | | | 3. It is not the size of the school but the number |
| surprised to hear that now. All of my peers had | | | | of kids that live there that counts |
| dreams of a particular school, or a particular | | | | Let me tell you a little trick when you examine |
| academic reputation, or they aimed for a certain | | | | your school's size. Look strictly at its percentage |
| city. I had distances. | | | | of students that live on campus. Particularly when |
| The minimum distance was 500 miles from my | | | | you are starting out as a first-year student, you |
| mother and 500 miles from my father. In order | | | | spend a whole lot of time on campus, and most |
| to meet these criteria, the school needed to be | | | | schools require you to live there at least through |
| somewhere in Nevada, or somewhere in the | | | | your first year. The number of students that live |
| Pacific Ocean. For the record, the vector did | | | | on campus has a lot to do with the kind of |
| eventually land me at University of Nevada, Las | | | | experience you will have. |
| Vegas. | | | | I went to UNLV which only had an on-campus |
| But looking back now, I realize that I did very little | | | | population of a little over 1,000 students. That is a |
| in the way of research then. I did not know the | | | | relatively small population of students to live |
| right questions to ask, much less whom to ask | | | | among. I looked at the overall campus population, |
| them to. You already have the resources, but | | | | over 20,000 students, and assumed I would be |
| you have to do the legwork. Parents are a good | | | | interacting with a diverse group. But the truth |
| start. Assess their expectations, particularly how | | | | was, my social and educational circles were usually |
| much they expect to pay. Then set that | | | | limited to the 1,000. Whichever population size you |
| information aside and start researching specific | | | | prefer, just remember that commuters are |
| schools. You should use your guidance counselor | | | | usually significantly less engaged in campus |
| as a resource, but do not forget the internet. And | | | | activities; clubs, intramural sports, and social nights. |
| pay the campus a visit during the school year. | | | | 4. Cost is a hill, not a mountain |
| The only time it does not pay to do the research | | | | If you want to go to college, prepare to take out |
| is when you already know exactly where you | | | | loans to pay for it. If your parents can afford it |
| want to go, whether it is your only choice, or | | | | and are willing to pay, you are lucky. For |
| your parent's alma mater, or you are going locally. | | | | everyone else, once you know the school you |
| If you do not know, it is always a good idea to | | | | want to go to, just go. The cost of education is |
| arm yourself with as much information as you | | | | exorbitant and steadily rising. There is no way |
| can. Otherwise you might end up at a university in | | | | around it. |
| the Pacific Ocean. | | | | Parents look at debt warily, and their opinion is to |
| 2. Rankings Are Relative | | | | be respected. But when it comes to picking a |
| Any college guide would have you believe that | | | | college, cost should not be the determining factor. |
| their publication, and only theirs, really has the | | | | Think of your education loans as an investment in |
| definitive information on a wide swath of criteria | | | | your future. Whatever you invest now |
| to pick a college. Do not believe it. There are two | | | | compounds in your skill set, your experience and |
| things at stake here to keep in mind. Every | | | | the assets that you develop for furthering your |
| college guide has a bias. And college rankings are | | | | future earning potential. |
| dependent on that bias. | | | | Picking a college is a process, but it should not be |
| Take the Harvard University of college guides, U.S. | | | | an overwhelming one. Make a list of criteria that |
| News and World Report as an example. What's | | | | are important to you and take that with you on |
| the bias? U.S. News wants to be an elite college | | | | your search. It is indisputably a big deal to choose |
| guide, the cream of the crop. That means their | | | | a college for yourself, but the process has never |
| ranking formula has to be the most complicated, | | | | been easier. Do not let anyone tell you otherwise. |
| has to utilize the most criteria and they have to | | | | |