Checklist for Students
Stay focused on what is right for you.
After you know what it is you're looking for in a college, you can begin researching individual schools and see if they meet your requirements.
Narrow your list of "possibles" down to four or five, then visit the campuses, take a tour, and talk to students.
A checklist can help you figure out if a college is really right for you. Take this checklist with you when you visit.
Checklist Items
- Does the school's reputation meet my requirements?
- Do I "fit" the personality of the student body?
- Can I get a degree (or certificate) in four or two years?
- Are there trained people (advisors) on staff who will help me schedule classes correctly so that I can meet my goals in the time I require?
- Are classes taught by professors? (Sometimes, especially at larger universities, classes may be taught by graduate students, so this is important to know.)
- Will the school accept Advanced Placement courses?
- Will the school accept my credits if I start out at a two-year community or technical college?
- Does the school require freshmen to live on campus? Do I have a choice of where I live: at home, in a nearby apartment, in dormitories on campus, in campus apartments? (Where you live affects how much your college experience will cost.)
- Is financial aid available?
- Is the financial aid office on campus? How does it operate? What hours is it open?
- If I qualify for financial aid, will the school let me pay my tuition and fees with the financial aid or will I have to pay tuition and fees up front with an emergency loan, then get paid back when my aid comes in?
- Are there scholarships available at the school? If yes, are they athletic, merit, or other? What office handles scholarships?
