Choosing A College
By Ruth Haag
www.RuthHaag.com
For those who will be a high-school junior this year, and want to go to college, it's time to determine what college they want to attend.
Folks often do this by talking with their friends, looking at brochures, and looking at the college's course offerings, but an often-overlooked factor is determining whether the academic and living environment at the school is one in which the student will succeed.
If the student is unhappy in the school and living environment, no amount of academic prestige will keep them there. Since the goal of attending college should be to graduate, the living environment is very important.
Colleges come in many shapes and sizes, so finding the right "fit" is not too difficult, if you understand the differences. Here, we review the different characters.
Small Private Schools
Small, private schools typically have 1,600 or fewer total students, or fewer than 400 per class level. They are often affiliated with a religious institution. They have small campuses and normally very attentive faculty.
In these schools, the student is assigned a guidance counselor who meets with them and helps them determine what courses to take. The faculty in these schools typically has Master's or PhD degrees.
Often the schools require the students to live on campus, and the school then provides dormitories and dining halls. The school takes a very active role in the student's education, and also in monitoring their living and partying habits.
A student who has not been away from home much, and who is a bit uncertain about the college experience, can be very successful in a small private school.
The main downside is that, since these schools are private, they cost quite a bit to attend.
Medium-Sized State Schools
Medium-sized state institutions typically have around 20,000 students, most working on Bachelor's degrees, but some working on Master's degrees and PhDs.
The student has a guidance counselor, but often has to seek out the counselor for help.
The students typically live on campus in dormitories the first year, but often live off-campus in apartments for the remaining years.
The student has to understand the college bureaucracy, and "work it." Living off-campus requires more independence. They must be able to pay their bills, and prepare their own food. No one from campus is there to oversee their living or partying arrangements. The range of courses offered at these schools is greater. The lecturers may have Master's or PhD degrees.
These schools are typically much lower in cost than private colleges, as long as the family is living in the same state as the school, or is "in-state." If the family is "out-of-state," then the tuition is normally three times the "in-state" tuition. This ends up being comparable to the tuition at a small private school.
Large State Schools
Large state institutions typically have a student body of 40,000 to 60,000. Students normally live in dormitories the first year, and off-campus the next years. The college may not even offer on-campus housing for upperclassmen. At these schools, the student has to be able to handle large corporate problems on their own. They, and about 1,500 others, are assigned a guidance counselor who signs their class schedule each semester. The student must be able to determine what courses they need to graduate, and be able to schedule these on their own. The lecturers have PhDs, and are assisted by graduate students. Much of the actual teaching, and most of the interaction with students, is done by these graduate students, who are working on their own Master's or PhD degrees. The professors have office hours, and are often helpful when approached, but the student must know that they have a problem in the class, and must take the initiative to find the professor and get help. These schools spend a lot of time trying to make themselves act like small schools, but they are largely unsuccessful.
A person who attends a large university must be able to cope on their own. The cost to attend most of these large state colleges is about the same as the medium-sized state schools, if the family lives in the same state as the school, or is "in-state."
Community Colleges
Community colleges often offer two-year degrees, but some offer four-year degrees. The students live at home while attending classes. The class schedules often allow for the students to have full-time jobs and attend school at the same time. Because the students live at home, the experience at a community college can be more like that of a high school. Most instructors at community colleges have Master's degrees.
The cost of a community college is generally less than that of the other options. Students often attend two years of community college and then make the jump to a four-year school to finish up their degrees.
The School's Personality
Colleges all have personalities. You can feel the personality when you arrive at the campus for a visit. If you visit the school and it does not feel like you, then don't go there. There is one major well-respected institution that we visited with one of our daughters, that we thought would be wonderful. What a joy to be able to say that she had a degree from that school! We arrived on campus and prepared to take the tour. The tour guide was what we used to call "flaky," but we chalked that up to happenstance. Then we sat in an auditorium and listened to a talk given by an admissions person. She also seemed to not "go very deep." We figured it was just the person available to talk that day. Our daughter attempted to talk to people in the department she wanted to attend. She had trouble getting in touch with them, and then had trouble getting any information out of them. Finally, she went for an interview with a graduate from the school who lived in our area. This person struck us the same as the others. This was definitely not a school for us.
Walk around campus and feel the personality of the school. You want to feel comfortable there. Do most of the people that you meet seem intelligent and happy? Are they stern? Are you stern? When you stand on the campus looking lost, does someone stop to help you? Do you want help? Or do you want to be left alone?
When you happen into the research area and find a researcher, do they stop to talk to you? Are they excited about what they do?
We once were standing on a sidewalk at a school with 60,000 students. A statistics professor stopped, asked if we needed help, and then told us all about the school. What a good feeling for us. Find a good feeling, for you.
Choosing
For a protected environment, choose a community college or a small private school. For independence, choose a larger school. Choose a school that feels right to you.
Definitions
Associate Degree: Two years of class work, generally four classes a semester. Normally given in a specific job-related field like Environmental Technician, or Engineering Technician.
Bachelor's Degree: Four years of class work, generally four classes a semester. Bachelor's degrees are split into either Bachelor of Arts (BA), which emphasizes disciplines such as English and Classics, or Bachelor of Science (BS) which emphasizes disciplines such as Botany, Geology, and Chemistry.
Master's Degree: Two additional years of study, past the Bachelor's Degree. Often a Master's degree requires some research work that extends research started by others. The divisions are like those for the bachelor's: Master of Arts (MA) or Master of Science (MS).
PhD (Doctorate): Two additional years of study past the Master's Degree. Normally original research is required, and is presented in a dissertation.
Underclassman: a freshman or sophomore, the first two years of a 4-year program.
Upperclassman: a junior or senior, the last two years of a 4-year program.
About the author: Ruth Haag (
www.RuthHaag.com
) helps managers and employees understand the dynamics of the work environment, and how to function smoothly within it. She is the President/CEO of Haag Environmental Company. She has written a four-book business series: #147;Taming Your Inner Supervisor#148;, #147;Day-to-Day Supervising#148;, #147;Hiring and Firing#148;, and #147;Why Projects Fail.#148; Her enjoyable, easy-to-read books provide a look at life the way it is, rather than the way that you might think it should be.Permission granted for use on DrLaura.com.
