Education at its best

The Cambridge Dictionary defines education as “the process of teaching or learning, especially in a school or college, or the knowledge you get from this.”

When you consider the investment in time and money put towards higher education, you want to make sure you’re getting the best education for your specific goals and circumstances.

A college should prepare you for your future and offer education at its best. You’ll want to choose a school that aligns with your personal and professional goals. Let’s face it, with all the options out there, the process can be daunting.

The first thing to consider are your grades and standardized test scores. Your grade point average, or GPA, reflects your overall high school performance. Challenging yourself with honors and AP courses in high school also looks good on your transcript. The admissions department will also look at how well rounded you are. For instance, do you volunteer in your community, and do you participate in extracurricular activities like sports or band?

Do you want to attend a two-year or four-year college? A larger institution that offers a variety of majors may be best if you’re not sure what path you want to pursue. On the other hand, a vocational or technical school would be a better fit if you want to focus on skills needed for a specific field. If job or family responsibilities are a concern, distance learning may be the best option.

Also, consider the size of the college. Would you prefer a larger school that has tens of thousands of students or a smaller one that enrolls a few thousand?  If you’re leaning towards a big school, you might be in a class with as many as 300 other students. Sound overwhelming? Then a smaller school that offers more individualized attention may be the better choice. If athletics and involvement in student groups are important to you, a bigger college or university is more likely to offer that than a smaller one.

And don’t forget location, location, location. Are you okay living hours from home?  Would you thrive in a big city filled with round-the-clock activity? Or is a smaller campus in a quiet, rural area more your speed?

As for academics, make sure the school has the degrees and classes you are looking for. You can also get a sense of its academic quality by checking its rankings among other schools. And make sure the college is accredited in the field you want to pursue.

While it might not seem like a big deal, retention and graduation rates are important too. They are a good indication of the quality of the school and student satisfaction.

Of course, you’ll want to consider the cost. A private college will cost significantly more than a not-for-profit or state-run school. Are student loans and financial aid available? How about work-study jobs? Living on campus brings the added expense of room and board. While you may be yearning for independence, living with your parents will save you big bucks. Your big expenses will be fuel and parking fees or public transportation fares.

Take advantage of open houses. Colleges and universities schedule them throughout the year to give prospective students a feel for college life.  Many of the tours are led by college students who undoubtedly know the campus best. So, during your visit, ask them a lot of questions about classes, professors, activities, residence halls, the dining hall and even the best places to order take out. Some schools will even let high schoolers stay overnight to get an idea of what you can expect as a college student.

After you have researched colleges, weigh the pros and cons of each you are considering. That will help you choose a school that will offer the best education for your specific needs. Family and friends may offer advice and their opinions on your top choices. Take it into consideration, but remember, it’s your future and ultimately your decision. After all, you will be the one spending the next 2 to 4 years or more there.

So, as you can see, education is not one size fits all. A quality learning experience depends on what best suits you. Good luck with your college hunt!