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General College Information
Students should begin researching colleges and universities as early as their sophomore year in high school. When researching a college or university, there are several factors that need to be considered. Here are a few important factors to consider:
- Does the college or university offer the major(s) that I am interested in pursuing?
- Location (Is the college or university close to home, within driving distance, or do I need to travel by plane?) In considering the location, think about the distance and how often you would like to return home. The further the college or university, the more difficult it will be to go home on a frequent basis. Feeling “home sick” is a real issue and often one of the leading causes of students dropping out of college.
- Size- The size of the college or university is often overlooked. Think about how you learn best. If you need frequent contact and access to your professors, a small to medium college/university will be ideal. Most small colleges/universities, on an average, have a class size of 20-30 students. In the larger colleges/universities it is much more difficult to have access to your professors. Classes are usually held in large lecture halls and may have as many as 300-400 students. Lectures are usually followed by discussion held in a classroom with approximately 40 students. Discussions are led by graduate students who are working as research assistants at the college/university.
- System- There are traditionally two types of university systems, semester and quarter. The semester system is usually 15 weeks long, while the quarter is approximately 10 weeks long. Some factors that must be considered when determining which system is most appropriate for you are the rate at which you learn, your organizational skills, and your ability to handle multiple tasks. If you find you are able to learn a large quantity of information in a short amount of time, can work on multiple assignments, projects, or research papers simultaneously and have strong organizational skills, a college or university that has a quarter system in place may be the right fit. If, however, you need more time to master the information presented in various classes, work more slowly on projects or research papers, and haven’t mastered your organizational skills, a school that has a semester system in place may be the best fit.
- Cost-Please note that the cost to attend a college/university varies. The tuition for the California State Universities (CSU) is much less than the tuition for the Universities of California (UC) and private colleges and universities. The rule of thumb is to apply to your first choice regardless of cost. Make sure, however, that you also apply to several universities that meet your needs which are much more affordable. You can apply for grants, loans and scholarships to meet the costs of your more expensive first choice. Later, if you do not receive enough financial aid you can enroll to your more affordable second or third choice university.
Considering these factors in advance will help you make a better informed decision, ensuring that you receive the quality education that you deserve and improve the probability that you will graduate from college.
If you would like more information, please schedule an appointment with your guidance counselor.
Links to SAT Prep Courses:
An SAT prep course may help you improve your scores. If you would like more information regarding SAT prep courses, please visit the following links:
The Princeton Review (www.PrincetonReview.com)
To print a full list of test prep centers click here...
