College: What do you know now that you didn't

[amberlyrose]

My baby cousin is here with her parents to check out the university a few blocks from me. We did some dorm tours this morning and they are currently doing a campus tour right now. She's still trying to decide between this school and one closer to home. She doesn't know what is going to help her decide between the two since she hasn't chosen a major, so I thought I'd ask here for some ideas on what made you decide on a certain school. Also, any advice on things you wished you would have thought of before you chose your college. 

I already shared that I wished I had chosen a school based on what I wanted instead of where all my friends were going. 

[MWOS]

How close are the bars to the dorms

[smock]

Finances--I chose the school where I wouldn't have any student loans.

[game blouses]

I wish I'd been more involved socially. My school had my major but did not have a great social scene. I'd see what schools offer groups or clubs that she'd be interested in joining.

[underwaterrhymes]

I didn't know that I needed accountability. I went to a large university the first time, where none of the professors knew whether I was in class or not.

Ergo, I didn't go. I wound up dropping out.

When I went back two years later, my dad convinced me to look at a much smaller school I had no initial interest in. I fell in love with the campus, its proximity to the beach, and the fact that I could major in Social Work and not have to take math.

It was the best decision of my life up until that point. (I've made even better ones since then, but that is definitely in the top 10.)

[Serenity9]

I wish I had gone to a less expensive school for my first two years to do Gen Ed classes, and then transferred to the school I wanted my degree to be from to complete my Major.

[Deleted]

Loans are ok if it is a great school and your major has career prospects. Just don't take out loans to get a Jesus degree from Liberty University.

[FastHands]

May 11, 2015 14:42:55 GMT -5 underwaterrhymes said:

I didn't know that I needed accountability. I went to a large university the first time, where none of the professors knew whether I was in class or not.

Ergo, I didn't go. I wound up dropping out.

When I went back two years later, my dad convinced me to look at a much smaller school I had no initial interest in. I fell in love with the campus, its proximity to the beach, and the fact that I could major in Social Work and not have to take math.

It was the best decision of my life up until that point. (I've made even better ones since then, but that is definitely in the top 10.)

Mine is a combo of this and smock 's. I knew I needed something small, so I'm glad I went with that, but I think I could've found a decent, small, more-affordable program. I was able to get work right out of college and take care of my loans without letting them burden me for decades, but it was still a large chunk of money that I wish I would have had to invest back then. 

[FastHands]

May 11, 2015 14:44:40 GMT -5 @porcupine said:

Loans are ok if it is a great school and your major has career prospects. Just don't take out loans to get a Jesus degree from Liberty University.

Did you go to Liberty??

[appleaday]

Class size. Mine were HUGE and I think it really affected my grades.

ETA: (I did horribly with large class sizes.)

[Deleted]

Definitely finances was a top priority. Other considerations: big vs. small school, class sizes, campus/student life and clubs, activities in the area, is there public transport on campus, are the dining halls decent, does the school offer programs that she thinks she might be interested in. My school was on the bigger side, with some huge classes, and that's how I liked it, but I know a lot of people who preferred a much smaller setting. I enjoyed having 10+ different dining halls to choose from and liked that I could be anonymous if I wanted.

[BeagleMama]

You're going to do more than just study and go to class. Be sure the college or university is going to fit your needs beyond the classroom.

How do you like the residence halls (options, safety, cleanliness, access, etc.)?
How are the facilities for campus rec (gym, intramural fields) and fine arts (theatre, galleries, concerts)?
Are there clubs, Greek organizations or things to join that interest you (Dance Marathon, student government, Star Trek club)?
Do you like the actual city the college is in and the neighborhoods surrounding campus?

[amberlyrose]

May 11, 2015 14:42:55 GMT -5 underwaterrhymes said:

I didn't know that I needed accountability. I went to a large university the first time, where none of the professors knew whether I was in class or not.

Ergo, I didn't go. I wound up dropping out.

When I went back two years later, my dad convinced me to look at a much smaller school I had no initial interest in. I fell in love with the campus, its proximity to the beach, and the fact that I could major in Social Work and not have to take math.

It was the best decision of my life up until that point. (I've made even better ones since then, but that is definitely in the top 10.)

I know this was another thing she was worried about. 

[Deleted]

May 11, 2015 14:45:58 GMT -5 FastHands said:

May 11, 2015 14:44:40 GMT -5 @porcupine said:

Loans are ok if it is a great school and your major has career prospects. Just don't take out loans to get a Jesus degree from Liberty University.

Did you go to Liberty??

Good god, No. But my sister almost went to a similar college and I talked her out of it. 

[FastHands]

May 11, 2015 14:48:48 GMT -5 @porcupine said:

May 11, 2015 14:45:58 GMT -5 FastHands said:

Did you go to Liberty??

Good god, No. But my sister almost went to a similar college and I talked her out of it. 

[amberlyrose]

May 11, 2015 14:39:34 GMT -5 MWOS said:

How close are the bars to the dorms

she's not a big drinker. she likes the pot, though. 

+1 for Colorado.

[Deleted]

A major where after I graduated their was an actual job for me. --Nursing, Accounting, etc. 

My psych and English degrees did nothing for me directly out of college.  WOT. 

[lissaholly]

Since she doesn't know her major, she should pick a school that offers some diversity, so that she can stay there once she declares it. Likewise, if she decides she wants to do something that her school doesn't offer at a later date, she should choose the school that would get the most out of a transfer.

Social life. I went to a small school that forced me to have a plan to be social. It worked out great, but I have this no thought before going in. Without that personal connection, college would have not been the great experience I had.

Alumni services. Is she going to be able to use her school to network, lean in, etc. after she graduates. A school with an active alumni branch is a great resource down the line.

When all else fails, cost. If the schools are too similar in all areas, then save the money as best you can. It adds up quickly!

[wambam]

If she chooses a stupid hard major, remind her to have a little bit of fun. I regret having very little fun in college.

[karmasabiotch]

If they have people to walk you to your dorms at night so you don't have to walk alone.

[amberlyrose]

May 11, 2015 14:58:42 GMT -5 @aliciaroset said:

Also, have her strongly consider taking courses at a community college before or during her time at the other school. It will be significantly cheaper in the long run.

She already has a few credits, so transferring those are also going to be factored in. 

[starryfish]

Cheaper school if she is not sure.

Def recommend going with the dorm the first year

I think farther away is better then too close to home.

[amberlyrose]

+1 is her BF is at school near home. Well, plus for her.

[RoxMonster]

I agree with making sure there are things you want to get involved in. I wish I had been more social in college. Also dorms without a/c are worse than you imagine.

[amberlyrose]

May 11, 2015 15:07:32 GMT -5 TR said:

omg I wish someone had helped me like this when I was looking at colleges. And I use the word "looking" loosely, I really only looked at two schools and those were just based on geography. Neither of my parents went to college so I feel like I had very little guidance going into the whole experience.

Same here. Our moms both went to the community college in our hometown and they were married/had kids. My mom finished her B.S. at a satellite campus an hour away from home and I think my aunt finished online.

It is really hard trying to sell not just my cousin but her parents on the whole "college experience" thing since it really is like talking to 3 freshmen. Her dad never went to school, so even tuition and room/board are freaking him out.

[gault]

Look at the campus life activities, make sure there are clubs or events that hold her interest and would keep her involved in the college, not just the classes.

Smaller class sizes

Agree with the more accountability

Majors that are more applicable to real-life application, unless you KNOW you are going to teach college English classes etc.

[katb]

I commuted my first year (took 40 minutes, but in rush hour could take over an hour and hten another 15 minutes to find parking) and hated it. Because it took so long to get there, I didn't know anyone, I rarely went and failed my first semester. I then went to live away at college that was @ 3hours away and loved it.

[thebreakfastclub]

One thing I know now, as a 39 year old, is to look at what companies recruit at the school.

My huge company has an intern program and a training program right out of school, and they are really nice. The intern kids get corporate housing and a lot of great experience.

My company only recruits at a few select schools. They won't attend a job fair at the university 5 miles away, even though it has a great business school. They will fly across the country to another school's fair, though.

[winnied]

She should visit all kinds of schools. Initially, I only wanted to go to a Big 10 school or a Catholic university like Notre Dame, Loyola, DePaul, etc. Even though my parents went to those schools, they still encouraged me to visit a tiny liberal arts school and it turned out to be the perfect school for me. I wouldn't have known about it at all if my parents hadn't insisted.

I also chose based on finances. I still took out loans, but I went to the cheapest school that interested me and it had incredible scholarship opportunities.

Is studying abroad important to her? What about other opportunities? She should think about that as well.

What kind of area is the school in? Some people hate big cities, some people have to be in cities.

How far is it from home? I went to a school 2 hrs away and it was perfect. H was only 10 min away from his parents and he probably saw his parents (including the one who taught at the school) less than I did.

[amberlyrose]

May 11, 2015 16:33:06 GMT -5 winnied said:

She should visit all kinds of schools. Initially, I only wanted to go to a Big 10 school or a Catholic university like Notre Dame, Loyola, DePaul, etc. Even though my parents went to those schools, they still encouraged me to visit a tiny liberal arts school and it turned out to be the perfect school for me. I wouldn't have known about it at all if my parents hadn't insisted.

I also chose based on finances. I still took out loans, but I went to the cheapest school that interested me and it had incredible scholarship opportunities.

Is studying abroad important to her? What about other opportunities? She should think about that as well.

What kind of area is the school in? Some people hate big cities, some people have to be in cities.

How far is it from home? I went to a school 2 hrs away and it was perfect. H was only 10 min away from his parents and he probably saw his parents (including the one who taught at the school) less than I did.

She doesn't really have time since she's graduating in 2 weeks (cue me crying) and narrowed it down to two schools. 
School 1 is 3 hours away, much bigger, in state, decent academics but known to be a party school

School 2 is 8-9 hours away, Small (10k undergrads), out of state but with a state to state agreement, not too many social clubs, no greek life, but great internships.