<p>Wow sorry that got so long!!</p>
<p>As a current college freshman, I thought I'd share some of those tidbits that I realized were important after I started college and am thankful that I have. Here are some ideas of things you can think of when choosing a college. It is tough making that final choice, but I sort of went with my gut feeling finally. Your choice should feel right, even though all colleges will offer you things that you may like. That is what you must keep in mind - most any school could fit you in some aspect, it is just seeing which fit you to a larger degree and prioritizing your wants. You may get to the point where you're stuck between two good schools and like both of them. However, I think that deep down you may have a feeling that one is better for you. I definitely recommend visiting a campus if you haven't or trying to talk to a student to get a firsthand perspective. I also think class visits are pretty important; yet try a variety because there's the chance you could be stuck in a bad class which is not the norm.
* How close to campus are convenience stores? How quickly can you get to them? Think of what items you consume and browse college stores to see if those items are there. (Also keep in mind that some stores aren't really vital to your college survival. You won't be going clothes shopping every week! Basically the only things I've had to buy in convenience stores so far have been a box of granola bars, cold medicine, and laundry detergent. So I didn't buy a lot, but within a busy schedule, it is nice to have these things close by.)
* Distance. This is my perspective: when I was looking for colleges I was willing to look far away but my college ended up being 3 hours from my house, which I am so happy about in retrospect. Transportation is important, and I always feel so relieved that I can get a ride home instead of having to carry my luggage blocks away to catch an airport shuttle or having to pay lots of money for a cab. How important is it for you to be able to go home over shorter breaks? If you live fairly far away from a college, you might have to stay on campus for breaks if it isn't worth spending transportation time. And in another variation - how spread out is campus. It is a 10-15 minute walk for me from one side of campus to the other. I would say that once you get to 20 minutes or higher, you should question whether you are OK with that.
* How easy is it to add/drop classes?<br>
* Will you have one on one advising sessions? My parents were surprised how many times I had met with my advisor. I'm not sure what the norm is, but I think that it is a good thing to have personal advising sessions.
* How many different places on campus exist for eating on the meal plan? If you're vegetarian or vegan I would really recommend finding out dining hall selections.
* I found this advice on this board and like it though it isn't that vital. Try and find some spaces that you like for studying or just to be able to sit and read. For example, is there a nice patch of grass and is the library conducive for studying? The campus should make you feel comfortable.
* How much flexibility is there in general?
* How many different resources are around that are helpful? How easy is it to navigate these resources? Learn student health services policies.<br>
* This is optional, but see if your college has progressive ideas about saving electricity, recycling, making safe spaces, and committing to making everyone feel welcome. It's cool to think your college does this.
* You might want to find out about technology support. If your computer breaks, is there somewhere on campus to go? Is the internet everywhere and does it function well?
* Are there diverse types of events? For example, are there lots of things going on on weekends? Probably yes....but it is probably good to check this out, especially for colleges in remote locations. Find their event calendar and see if the sort of events they have are things that you're interested in. This could also probably say a lot about the vibe on campus.
* What is the schedule like? If you plan to do something in late May, you better check to see if the school gets out by then!
* All and all, really think about what you're interested in and if the college will give you those opportunities. For example, I'm very interested in music. My college also has a conservatory, which I'm not in, but I can still get music from the music library, use the facilities, and hear concerts. I don't think I would have so much involvement in music at most other schools. Also, are there many ways to get involved? Definitely keep your interests and wants in mind, and of course think about your academic needs.
* Class size. I really didn't feel like this was important when choosing a college, but now that I'm here I realize how important it is. If you plan to go into one of those fields with large intro classes like science, it might be nice to try and find a school with a smaller class size in order to really get to have interaction with your professor. Small class sizes are definitely a plus!<br>
* Other students. Do other students seem friendly and approachable? If you are academically minded and looking for others who take their education seriously, do other students seem the same way? This is important for things like classes. I'd much rather be in a class where students have many interesting things to say and questions to ask than just sitting and sleeping.<br>
Alright, that's all I have for now. If I think of more, I'll be sure to post them.</p>
<p>Thanks, estargrl88! It is so valuable to get the ideas of someone who just went through the application process and is on a campus now.</p>
<p>i'm glad i could help :)</p>
<p>so where do you go to school now estargrl? are you enjoying college?</p>
<p>Great post. <em>adds it to favorites</em></p>
<p>Well I have to say distance to convenience stores has never come up on any priority list I've seen before!</p>
<p>I just thought of another thing...find out how much students typically spend in a week. Some places the cost of living might be higher and for tight budgets, it will be more difficult. Definitely don't discount finances when making your choice. For those on financial aid, this may weigh into a choice a lot, but it is an important thing to consider. Also look into student jobs.
By the way, I'm now happily enjoying my college - Oberlin.</p>
<p>Thanks for the advice--I've never considered some of this before but I guess some of these factors really do make a difference once you're in college. The music thing is important to me too--glad to know that Oberlin has those opportunities :)</p>
<p>Great post. I'm definitely having a tough time trying to decide which college I'm going to attend.</p>
<p>i thought that i'd bump it now that it's decision-making season!</p>
<p>and again....</p>
<p>I've heard from a couple of different sources that many schools underestimate food costs. Beware of this, if you are not heading to a place with an all-you-can-eat plan. Places with a cash card system estimate six dollars a day in some cases, and that is far too low. You may have to allocate an extra one to two thousand for a-la-carte food. Also, beware of distance. Long distance sounds exciting when you are in high school, but it rapidly becomes a nuisance, time drain, and money drain when you are a freshman. Also, if the cost is a borderline problem, remember that it will go on for four years. Lots of undergrads end up quitting, transferring, or taking a year off due to financial difficulties.</p>
<p>I heard a good piece of advice today...try sitting in on the same class in the different schools you're looking at. For example, if you like biology, try to go to the intro bio class.</p>