RESEARCHING COLLEGES: SIZE AND ACADEMICS

Researching colleges is the first step of the college process.

How do size and academics fit into your college exploration?

The best way to determine your likes and dislikes in the college process is by researching a wide variety of different possibilities. College size is an important place to begin this exploration. Smaller colleges offer students a connected campus where people feel like they belong, allow students to work closely with professors, and often offer strong support around academics, internships, and career development. Bigger universities often offer the opportunity to pursue specialized study. Classes are generally large and lecture-based, and can be taught by teaching assistants. Big universities always have plenty of activities for students to be involved with. Medium-sized schools can be a great middle ground that offers the best of both worlds for students.

Academics are, of course, the major focus of college life.

If there is a subject or major that you are interested in, explore that field of study at several different schools. If you are undeclared, or don’t know what you would like to study in college, look at different universities and see what supports they offer for finding a major or switching from one major to another. Do some research to see if a college or university has any programs that are particularly difficult to transfer into. Look at the classes offered outside your chosen field of study as well. What else interests you, and what might be involved in creating a minor or a concentration within a major at a college or university?

For help with college research, e-mail me:  michelle@samaracollegeadvising.com