You have a lot of options when it comes to deciding on the colleges to which you will apply and attend. Do you want to attend a four-year school or a two-year school? Are you looking for a large university or a small college? Public or private? Close to home or out of state? With thousands of colleges out there, the possibilities are endless. What we hope you will try to find, above all else, is a school that fits you.
Students please login to your Naviance page to find information about Colleges
Here are some thoughts to get you started.
Students please login to your Naviance page to find information about Colleges
Here are some thoughts to get you started.
Public vs Private
Public schools (or "state" schools) are universities that are primarily funded by state governments. In Indiana, some state schools are IU, Purdue, Indiana State, Ball State, and the University of Southern Indiana. Private schools, on the other hand, are colleges and universities that receive no state money to operate and instead rely on private donors and funds. Some examples of private schools in Indiana are DePauw, Hanover, Franklin, Wabash, Butler, and Notre Dame. Public schools are often larger than private schools, offer a wider array of classes and majors, and are less expensive for in-state students to attend. Private schools often boast smaller class sizes, more intensive instruction, and offer more financial aid and scholarships for admitted students.
4-year vs 2-year
Schools that offer four-year degrees offer "bachelor's" degrees. Schools that offer two-year degrees offer "associate's" degrees. Both degree programs prepare individuals to enter a career field. Associate's degree programs are shorter and less expensive than bachelor's degree programs, and they are often designed to get a person into a career with as little extraneous training as possible. Bachelor's degree programs on the other hand usually include general education classes (a "liberal arts" component) to be taken alongside students' specific program area classes. Graduates with bachelor's degrees in a career field will usually command higher pay rates than graduates with associate's degrees in the same field.
How do I choose?
It's all about finding the school that fits you best. College is an investment in your future, and like any investment it requires you to do some planning. What are your priorities when considering colleges? What career field do you want to enter and how will each college help you get there? What does each college cost to attend? What kind of financial aid can each college offer? What kind of salary will your education allow you to obtain in your career? In other words, what will be the return on your investment? Money is not the only consideration, but as college tuition costs continue to rise, it is an important one.
The College Visit
We strongly recommend that you schedule time to visit the colleges in which you are interested. There is no substitute for seeing and experiencing the college and campus life for yourself. Talk to an admissions counselor at the college and ask about scheduling a visit. Ask to speak to admissions and financial aid and for a tour. Make sure you prearrange the absence from school with a parent phone call beforehand. Also, remember to take a copy of your transcript (one that shows your senior year classes) and to dress neatly. After the visit it would be appropriate for you to send a thank you note to the people with whom you spoke. For a list of topics you might want to cover with college reps, click here.
Helpful Resources
There are a lot of websites out there that offer to help you in your college search. Some are worthwhile, and some are not. To view some sites that your guidance office recommends, click here.