Key Factors in Evaluating Colleges?

Hi everyone, I'm trying to create a list of colleges to apply to and I know there’s so much more than just rankings to consider. Can anybody tell me about the most important factors I should consider when evaluating a college? Anything you wish you’d paid more attention to when picking colleges? Thanks in advance!

Hello, good on you for wanting to be thorough in your college search! There's indeed far more to choosing a college than just its ranking. Here are some factors you might want to consider:

1. Academic Programs: This is perhaps the most crucial factor. Does the school offer a strong program in your intended major? Does it provide adequate resources, research opportunities, or internship connections in your field of interest?

2. Location: Consider if you'd prefer to be in an urban, suburban, or rural setting. Each of these settings offers different opportunities. Urban campuses often have connections to local businesses and industries which can provide job and internship opportunities. Rural and suburban campuses might provide a close-knit community and tighter campus life.

3. Class Sizes and Student-Faculty Ratio: The class size and faculty-to-student ratio can impact your ability to form close relationships with professors, which is particularly important if you’re interested in research or planning to apply to graduate school.

4. Campus Culture: Each campus has its unique vibe or culture. Some are more focused on athletics, others emphasize the arts, while others might pride themselves on their academic rigor. You should try to identify schools where you feel like you’d fit in and be comfortable.

5. Financial Aid and Cost: Beyond the college’s sticker price, it’s important to consider the financial aid packages they tend to offer. Some colleges meet 100% of demonstrated needs, and others may offer merit scholarships. Using the net price calculator available on every college’s financial aid website can provide you with an estimate of what your family might be expected to contribute.

6. Diversity: If having a diverse student body is important to you, explore the school’s demographics, as well as resources and support services for students from different backgrounds.

7. Retention and Graduation Rates: These stats give you a sense of how many students return after their first year and ultimately graduate, which can say a lot about student satisfaction and the school’s academic support.

8. Career Services and Placement Rates: Check out the success of the college's graduates, including things like job placement rate and average starting salary. You might also want to look at whether the college provides strong career guidance and job placement assistance.

I've learned that if a school checks most of your boxes, it's worth considering, even if its overall ranking isn't as high as some others on your list. Best of luck in your college search!