Choosing the right college for you: to find the right college out of nearly 4,000 choices, you have to really know what you want, and then carefully weigh what schools have to offer - Selecting A School

Careers and Colleges, Sept-Oct, 2003 by Nancy Fitzgerald

Simmi Mehta approached her college search from a meteorological perspective. It's not that she had her heart set on a career with The Weather Channel. It's just that she was in the market for a campus with plenty of sunshine.

"I'm from San Ramon, California," she explains, "and I knew that I had to be somewhere sunny. All during winter, when it's rainy and dark out, I get a little depressed, and it's hard to motivate myself to work. I find myself looking out the window thinking, 'I need to go play outside.'"

The weather wasn't the only factor in Mehta's decision. Academics were important, too, and she wanted a school with a strong economics department. A budding entrepreneur, Mehta owns her own Web design company and loves math, so economics seemed like the best way to combine her interests and her strengths. And after poring over the brochures and viewbooks stuffed in her mailbox, studying college guides, and visiting campuses, Mehta found the perfect match when she went on an excursion with her high school to Stanford University.

"The campus looked gorgeous," she recalls. "The buildings are all in the Spanish mission style, and there's this huge expanse of land. I could picture myself there, studying under the trees, feeling completely content. I just knew that this was where I was going to be."

And that's exactly where she ended up. As a student at Stanford, majoring in economics and thinking about a career in international business, Mehta knew that her college-search homework really paid off. A top-notch student in high school, she could have had her pick of many colleges, but the trick, she knew, was to find the right one for her. She figured out exactly what she needed, then found a college that fit the bill. That's the secret to completing a successful college search.

"You've got to start by finding out more about yourself," says Paul Marthers, dean of admission at Reed College in Portland, Oregon. "Instead of wondering what 'brand name' colleges you can get into, ask yourself, 'Where will I be happiest?'"

To find a school that will match your needs, interests, and goals, you have to take charge of your college search. Here's how to get started.

KNOW YOURSELF

Before you start looking at colleges, consider the questions below and fill in the boxes to get a better idea of who you are and what type of school will best meet your needs.

What are my interests?

Think about the courses you've enjoyed most, the activities in which you've excelled, the hobbies that you love. Figure out what sparks your interest, and find a school that not only has the coursework and facilities to nurture your interests, but like-minded students to share your excitement.

In high school, Alexandra Parfitt of Glencoe, Illinois, couldn't decide which she liked more--biology of English. Parfitt ended up at the University of Chicago, researching molecular oncology and majoring in comparative literature. "The university encourages students to work in different disciplines and really values well-rounded people," she says.

INTERESTS

Favorite course: --

Favorite activities: --

Hobbies: --

How independent am I?

Some students thrive in an environment that leaves them to fend for themselves, while others are more comfortable with a bit of hand-holding, at least during that critical first year. "Students who are self-starters and show a lot of initiative can do well at almost any college, large or small," says Dave Arnold, former provost of St. John Fisher College in Rochester, New York. "Students who need more structure and guidance often do better at a smaller college."

Elizabeth Burr, of Los Angeles, for instance, chose Massachusetts Institute of Technology (M.I.T.) in Cambridge, a school more noted for its top science programs than for its nurturing atmosphere. "But that wasn't important to me," she says. "I like to blend into the crowd and figure things out on my own."

Generally, smaller colleges offer lower student-to-teacher ratios, which may mean you'll get more individual attention. However, each school is different. Some large schools pride themselves on having accessible professors and never using graduate teaching assistants. You'll have to visit campuses and talk to current students and alumni to get a handle on how available professors are, whether teaching assistants handle much of the work, and whether you will have to go the extra mile to receive individual attention.

INDEPENDENCE

Do I work better on my own or with guidance?

[] On my own [] With guidance

Do I seek approval from teachers and thrive from their feedback?

[] Yes [] No

How far will I go?

Before you pack your bags and cross 27 state lines, think carefully about how far you're willing to stray from your family, and how finances will affect your visits borne. "Ask yourself how important family ties are," advises John Gaines, associate dean of admission at Vanderbilt University in Nashville. "Can you motivate yourself to accomplish the tasks of day-to-day college life without outside help from your parents and siblings? The answers can help you determine whether or not you're ready to leave the nest."