What kind of college is right for you?
You have an incredible number of options.
Look at college as a place where you can grow (academically and socially), a place that fits your educational needs and your personality. In other words, a place that is right for you!
There are many colleges and universities, small and large, public and private, two-year or four-year, to consider. Begin narrowing your list of "possibles" by answering the following questions.
Why are you going to college?
This is very important. Your motivations for attending college affect the type, location, and size of the school you should attend.
Are you going because:
- Your friends are going?
- Your parents expect you to?
- You're not sure what you want to do and think college can help you find out?
- You want to learn technical skills essential to getting a particular job?
- You want to become a teacher, computer specialist, lawyer, doctor, or other professional?
- You want to make money and be more successful?
What are you looking for?
- A two-year community or technical college?
- A four-year college?
- A university?
Many factors affect the type of school you should pick:
- Were your grades in high school lower than those required by a university?
- Do you need developmental courses?
- Do you need to work full-time and attend classes at night?
- Do you need a certificate, an associate's degree or a bachelor's degree or higher to do what you want to do in life?
- Is prestige important to you?
What do you want most out of college?
Your focus here is to find a college that meets your needs!
Do you want:
- Small classes?
- Large classes?
- Specific degree programs or courses?
- Low tuition and fees?
- Scholarships or merit aid?
- The ability to transfer credit?
When should you consider price?
As you research colleges, you will see a large range in tuition and fees. In Texas, tuition and fees for 28 semester credit hours, a typical year of college can vary from about $600 at a Texas public community college to $21,000 a year at a Texas independent (private) college or university.
Don't let the cost stop you from applying, especially if that college is the best fit for you.
- The "sticker" price is often not what you and your family will have to pay out-of-pocket.
- Many schools offer tuition discounts or scholarships and grants to offset the price.
- There may be state or federal financial aid programs available to help cover your college costs. (Note: Applying for financial aid is a separate process from applying for admission.)
Before you make your final decision on which school to attend, wait until you've applied and received:
- A letter of acceptance and;
- An offer of financial aid, including local scholarships and grants for which you may qualify.
When you have all of the information in front of you, you can compare the actual out-of-pocket cost of one school versus another.
All it costs to check out your options is time and maybe a few application fees.
Note: Most colleges have policies for dropping the application fees for students who can't afford them.
