Katie Madigan
As application deadlines draw nearer, today’s seniors are under pressure to select the colleges they wish to attend, however, it doesn’t end there. Even though students may be accepted to several schools, they also have to decide which one to commit to.
College visits are crucial for observing the educational setting and cultural environment a school provides. Both on-campus and in-school options are available. I got a head start on these visits because I did both types a few years in advance. You can acquire an understanding of the school and its academic approach by attending on campus. For instance, a school might have a closer-knit or more competitive environment. Conversely, you can gain a more convenient and statistical understanding by attending the in-school visits hosted during school hours. For instance, if your family lacks the time and funds to attend an on-campus visit, the in-school ones are free and during class hours.
When choosing which colleges to commit to, there are a lot of factors to consider such as course offerings, cost, location, class size, academic requirements and professionalism. Priorities for some students may differ from those listed above. Some parents have less concern about where their kids attend, while other parents place the utmost importance on those aforementioned factors. Of those parents, I can claim that I belong to the latter category. Although my family worked hard to save money over the last eighteen years, they questioned the application fee and wanted me to stay in-state for lower tuition costs. But since the top three best universities in Michigan for my chosen major are less than an hour’s drive from my home, that wasn’t problematic for me.
I believe having a specific major in mind helped me narrow down my choices. Depending on the college of preference, it could be troublesome to enter with a vague idea. But if students have at least a basic sense of what they want, uncertainty won’t be a significant problem. It’s not that uncommon either. According to bestcolleges.com, 75% of students change their major at least once after entering, and 20 to 50% of students enter undecided. An undecided major can result in a path to either the right or wrong school of choice.
To effectively navigate this uncertainty, students should take advantage of the opportunities available at both types of these visits so they can make an informed decision that aligns with their aspirations and will set them on the right path for their future. I hope every student graduating this year finds a place where they belong.
