There are many factors that
will influence your choice of college or university. You need to do your research
carefully to choose the school that will best suit your needs and talents. Weigh all of
these factors and choose the institution with the best balance. 1) Type
-- Choose the type of institution best suited to your needs -- community college, liberal
arts college, or university, for example. Universities can be public or private, may be
affiliated with a specific religion, or may admit only one sex. You should understand the
differences before deciding.
2)
Size
-- Size affects the atmosphere of the school. A large institution may offer a greater
variety of sub-fields within a given discipline, but at the same time, professors may be
too busy with their own research to help you. A small university or college may offer
smaller classes and more contact with professors, but the department in your field of
study may be too small. Check the size of the university and
the size of the academic department.
3) Student
Body -- Consider factors such as male-female ratio, number of foreign
students, average age of students, number of full-time vs. part-time students.
4) Setting/Location
-- Location may be important because of personal or family concerns. You may prefer a city
to a rural community, or the climate may influence your choice.
5) Majors
-- Some large schools offer just about every area of study. Smaller schools are generally
more limited. Find schools that offer a good selection of courses with a variety of
faculty who specialize in different aspects of your field of study. This is especially
important for graduate study. Although a university may offer a doctorate in your field,
it may not have a program in the branch of that field that interests you. Also consider
research facilities, computing centers, library holdings, and flexibility or variations in
the program that interests you.
