So you finally decided that you want to fulfill your dreams in a particular career position, and decided to go back to school. Now your asking yourself questions like: Which school should I go to? Would I do better online? A big university vs. local college?
Needless to say the questions can go on and on. I usually advice my students to look at themselves first before even looking at a potential school. What type of enviornment do you learn best in? How did you do in your previous school history? First and foremost, always use yourself as a guide during the process. However, I have listed the top 5 things that you should consider when choosing a school:
#1.) School size
Consider the individual attention you may need: On large campuses, there are so many students and the classes are so huge that you may get very little interaction with professors. You can seek it out, but it won't be as easy as at a small school. Large schools may also make heavier use of TAs (Teacher Assistants), cutting your interaction down even more. You can drop through the cracks more easily at a large school.
Let me be blunt... knowing the right people can advance your career. You want your school peers and instructors to be the people in positions of power and influence in the upcoming decades. You may want to be sure that your school offers student organizations and/or clubs. This will enable you to not only learn from your peers, but build lasting relationships that can benefit you for years to come.
#3.) Student social and academic support
How much social support is available for the students -- especially the freshmen? Is there a network of people in place to help you with any issues that may arise? Is there a strong mentorship or advising program?
It is not fun to be cast into a vast sea of strangers who don't care whether you succeed or fail, whether you are happy or miserable. To me, the more support available, the better
#4.) Career Services:
The networking connections you make in college can be more valuable than the quality of education you receive. Prestigious colleges and small, close-knit colleges generally offer the best networking and career service opportunities. Make sure to find out what you can expect from the career services office and what type of organized career networking opportunities will be provided.
#5.) Your Gut Feeling
Trust your instincts. If a place feels right, that's important. Similarly, if it just feels wrong, no matter who wants you to go there or how good it looks on paper, it probably is. College is a very personal choice, and after considering all the other objective factors, the fact of the matter is that it comes down to you. Visit colleges you're interested in, and see how you feel walking around their campuses. Could you imagine yourself going to school there? Once you find a few places that you like, you'll be well on your way to finding the college that's right for you.
Choosing a school isn't easy, but its life-changing decision that will change your life for the better. If you still find yourself struggling to find a school that works for you, I am always here to talk. My contact information is listed below. Until then, happy hunting! :)
