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College rankings are so much about the “business” of education. Marketisation of this sector means that institutions, big or small, are going great lengths to attract the student population. While it’s absolutely justified on their part to find innovative methods to convince young minds, this increases your responsibility to peel off the layers of great articulation that makes well for great sales pitches and well crafted PR campaigns. Selecting a college that’s right for you is a hard decision but it’s a process YOU need to own. Here are a few guidelines that we hope in some small way will help you arrive at a decision.
College fairs give you broad access – A good place to start would be college fairs. This exposes you to hundreds of college counselors, department heads and financial assistance officers amongst others. To make your conversations more fruitful, do list down all the questions you seek answers to. Once you have shortlisted the colleges that seem of interest, it is well advised that you start building a rapport with the college admission counselor. This would in some ways ease your access to gaining more knowledge about the institution.
Seek out personal recommendations – You need to be very careful in your selection process. A poor decision can take you straight to the unemployment line and a right one to fast success. No college is perfect and weighing their strengths and weaknesses at the preliminary stage is advised. However, apart from referring to college guides, speak to people you know who have attended colleges you are keen to pursue. The chances of gaining deeper insights into “realities” are much higher from personal experiences.
Is your degree program recognized nationally? – Don’t make the mistake of only looking at the college ranking alone. Map the degree program you wish to pursue to how the course is accredited at a nationwide level.
Fit and feel – Choosing the right college is a personal decision. There are so many influencing factors starting from college fees to choices friends have made, pressure to get into the “best” colleges and the list goes on. The college you choose must hold the ability to synchronize your values and requirements to, your academic, intellectual and emotional aspirations.
Colleges’ willing to invest in improving teacher productivity – Knowing the credentials of the teaching staff is extremely important. Those colleges that invest in preparing their teachers are stating that the productivity of the teaching workforce can be directly linked back to the output of students. They are also holding the teaching force accountable for your performance.
Ask for measurable improvements undertaken by institutions – This is an indicator to how the school has been performing year- on – year. According to Mckinsey Quarterly, the best performing schools are those that are achieving measurable improvements in the areas of promoting graduates, redesigning methods for instruction delivery and efficiently running both core and non-core services.
While you debate the many factors that lead to a decision, always remember that it’s not merely a place for setting the stepping stones to a career ahead of you. It’s about preparing for life itself. So when choosing a college select one that helps you grow personally and professionally.
Related articles
- Selecting a College: A Checklist Approach (education.com)
- 13 Things to Think About When Making Your College List (Besides the Obvious) (commonwealthmgmt.com)
- How Can My Child Go About Choosing a College? (education.com)
