This year senior of Marist School, Ms. CLARE TIARSMITH shared with her blog-readers all fears and hesitations regarding the essential choice of her future – what college to choose?
The decision was not taken easily. Indeed! If to consider this step as a life-making choice one’s pins are going to be a little wobbly. That is true. Choosing between two attractive perspectives – entering Northeastern and the University of Georgia, lots of hesitations occurred. The great research work was executed before these two options have left. After thoughtful and in detail consideration of scholarships opportunities and admission decisions in different colleges – the circle of reconnaissance has been narrowed. This epic story, however, would not last that long – from the end of March till the mid of May – if the introductory trip to Georgia University has been conducted earlier. However, regular duties in school and rehearsals of the play delayed the crucial visit. By that time all people around and Clare herself were tired and dizzy of the constantly changing ‘final’ resolution in favor of one or another college.
Finally, the visit was taken on April, 18. That also meant that only two weeks ahead for a taking an ultimate decision. Considering all pros and cons while writing an email to parents adducing an excuse for such exhaustive uncertainty, the pluses and privileges of Georgia University became so vivid. What a relief is felt in moments like this! On the one hand, you choose what you really like, your mind accepts, your heart leans to and, on the other hand, your parents can afford without any serious harm to a family budget.
The sign of the correct choice in life is an inner peace, confidence, excitement about new opportunities and sweet expectation of the actual start. That all are felt when thrill of uncertainty has gone away.
I think you have presented a great list of factors for students to consider when choosing a college. If more students evaluated prospective schools based on these factors, I believe they would find colleges that were a good fit for them. Finding schools that are a good match academically and personally for a student should be the goal for each of us who help kids with the college search and admission process.
I made a spreadsheet for myself. Here are the columns I remember…
University Name – Website – City – Province – City size – Campus size – M (major), N (minor), or 0 (neither) available for each program I was interested in taking at that time from Art History to Psychology – Size of entrance scholarship I’d be eligible for – Cost of tuition per semester – Cost of residence/an apartment – Percentage of international students – Percentage of freshmen who return – Maclean’s Magazine overall ranking – Extracurrics available…
I had more, but I forget. I put every major university in Canada into the spreadsheet, and then I ranked them all according to what I was looking for overall, and eliminated the bottom thirty or so until I had twenty. I added more factors, reconsidered each, chose which provinces I wanted to live in, etc, until I got my top five.
Ended up getting accepted to my #1 choice, and I’m quite happy here in third year!
can you please help me to choose the right college? I have been admitted to KCL, QMUL, UCL and LSE. My main speciality is IP and TMT law, and i know that QMUL is the best choice for this course. Nevertheless, I believe that in general the reputation of LSE is better (I don’t know why it’s just the idea I stuck with). Therefore, I wonder whether anyone knows about IP courses there or can help me to make the reasonable choice. Many thanks in advance.
you’re right, qm does have a strong rep for ip, but is miles behind lse and ucl otherwise. i’d probably go for lse or ucl notwithstanding the IP question. i’d pick between the two based on specific modules on offer etc
The struggle that comes with making important decisions is always difficult. Figuring out where to go to college can seem especially gut-wrenching, since it is often the first time teens have grappled with the complexity and responsibility that comes with making life choices. But take a deep breath and have faith in yourself!
I made my college choice on a gut feeling. Five years later, no regrets. The truth is that you’ll probably be satisfied with the education that you receive at either institution.
I went to Iowa State for a year before transferring. It’s a beautiful campus, very self-enclosed. Many students go home on weekends so the dorms could feel deserted. But people are really nice and the professors are excellent.
The world would be a better place if everyone went with their “gut” instead of trying to cram in to the overrated, overhyped ivy league.
To be able to make the right choices we need the right information.
All students are supose to study under a condusive artmospher. So accomodation is one of the factors to be considered. Next is the quality of facilities available for practicals. The caliber of lecturers available. And how many student per an instructor will also help in getting across to the students