Starting the college search can be incredibly intimidating. There are many colleges out there and lots to consider as you look at them, from cost to distance to academic interest. How do you find a college that fits your personal criteria? And how do you make sure you aren’t being sold a bill of goods by some college advertising agency, but are actually going to get what you want out of the college of your choice? Luckily, there are a few simple steps that can help you narrow your focus in the college search and know what questions to ask as you take your first university tours.
Ask yourself a series of questions to figure out your college deal-breakers
Before you even start the googling process, sit down and ask yourself a series of questions to help you figure out what you’re looking for in a college. This will give you specifics to look for on college websites and assist in paring down the list of what colleges you might want to visit.
Christian v. Secular
Do you want Christian-based teaching?
This is a really important question as the answer will hugely impact the trajectory of your academic education. It’s also good to consider your potential major/area of study as you ask this question. For example, while it is not absolutely necessary to have math or business taught from a Christian perspective, something like biology will likely be approached differently by a Christian versus an atheist professor.
Are you prepared to have professors who stand for things you do not agree with morally/religiously?
If your answer to this question is yes, then be confident in that! Not every Christian is obligated to go to a Christian college, and even if you do you’ll run into ideas that don’t line up with Biblical truths. Going to a secular college is a great way to spread the love of Christ to unbelievers, and I have many friends who have treasured their time at state/secular schools. If you do go to a secular college, however, make sure there are good churches near by as well as on-campus ministry opportunities; it’s important to still be doing things that will nourish and strengthen your relationship with Christ.
Private v. Public
Do you want to go to a small or large school?
While going to a private school does not automatically mean that you’ll go to a small school, the typical size of private colleges are around 2,000 students.
What are you able to spend financially on college?
This is a very important question to ask, and the answer will likely help you cut out a few colleges on your list.
Do you want to be part of greek life/athletics?
The likelihood of most private universities having a strong greek and/or athletics department is slim, so that’s definitely something to consider if you’re wanting to be a part of either.
Location – North v. South/Near v. Far Away from Home
Do you like to drive/can you afford to fly?
This is a question I really should have asked myself before I committed to a college. I, who had never driven longer than an hour outside my city, decided to go to a college that was six hours away from home. What I discovered? I hate driving long distances. What I also discovered? I really like coming home every once and awhile. When I transferred, I ended up at a college that was two hours away from home, which was perfect driving distance for me: just close enough to go home for the weekend if I wanted to, far enough away that I felt like I was independent from my hometown.
If you have to fly to your school, how much stuff are you taking with you to college?
If you don’t pack light when you fly and you decide to go to a college that’s 10+ hours away, you should probably either learn to pack light or pick a different school.
Are you comfortable in the city/country?
This is another question I should have considered before I picked my first college. I have food allergies that meant I cooked a lot for myself, and my university was deep in the cornfields and the nearest grocery store was around 45 minutes away. This meant that I was taking around two hours out of my Saturday every week just to drive to the store, which wasn’t great for my social life (or my gas bill).
Variables
Dorm rooms
Knowing how much you value your personal space is a great thing to figure out before you get to college. Do you need to have your own room? Are you ok sharing a bathroom with ten other students? Do you need access to a kitchen/personal laundry machine?
Cafeteria
Here’s a pro tip: if you visit a college on a designated tour day, the cafeteria food will be substantially better than on an average day. So if the quality of your food is important to you, make sure to either visit on a typical school day or get the down-low from an honest-looking student while you’re visiting the campus.
Extra-curricular opportunities
Not all colleges offer the same extra-curricular activities, so if you really want to be involved in something like theater or dance, definitely check to make sure it’s offered at the schools on your list.
Majors
This might be an obvious one, but make sure that your major is offered (and preferably thriving) at the colleges you are going to visit. I’ve had a friend show up to her first week of school and discover that her major did not currently exist at that college, even though her admissions counselor told her it was.
