What Questions You Should and Shouldn't Be Asking When Picking A College

If I am being honest, when I decided which college to attend, I maybe knew a handful of facts about each college. I knew that the University of Utah had a really good medical program, Utah State University had Aggie Ice Cream, and Brigham Young University had a great dance team.

It felt like every person I talked to had a different opinion about where I should go, and all of my friends were choosing colleges for different reasons.

Some went because that's where their friends were going.

Some went because it had the best program for their major.

Some went because "They have the HoTtEsT GuYs there."

Some went because it's where their parents went, and their parents, and their parents...

My parents didn't have an opinion on where I went (which I am grateful for), which allowed me to get to do my own research on where I wanted to spend the next four years.

When I chose to go to Utah Valley University, it was because it was close to home (but not too close, ya feel?), they offered me the best scholarship, they had small class sizes, and I got into their Ambassador Program.

As I look back at my college experience, I am infinitely grateful I went to UVU because it was the right fit for me.

But I also recognize that each school has different unique qualities making it a better fit for other people.

The key to picking the right college for you is doing your research. If you treat preparing for college like a job, it will be the highest paying job you will ever have.

I am here to give you three questions we need to stop asking ourselves, and three questions we should start asking when picking a college.

What You SHOULDN'T Be Asking

1. What school has the best reputation?

We may not ever directly ask ourselves this question, but is definitely a subconscious influential factor.

Disclaimer: Reputation and Qualifications are NOT the same things. Going to a school because they have the best program for you is okay. Going to a school because you want people to view you a certain way is not.

Every college has a different reputation, and those reputations don't always line up to what it is actually like to go there.

You may think you are going to go to a school that is known for partying, but find there is actually only a small percentage a students who party, and the rest are dedicated to their education.

I can't tell you how many times I have told people I go to UVU, only to get the immediate response, "Oh, so you didn't get into BYU?". While that reputation is fading, it is still there. If I had chosen not to go to UVU because of that reputation, I would have missed out on the best school for me.

Do your research. Talk to people who currently go to college. And stop caring what other people will think of you.

2. Where do my parents want me to go?

This one can be a little tricky. Parents are smart and want what is best for us, but they also have biases based on where they went to school and how they perceive each college.

For example, I gave a tour to a student who wanted to go into Forensic Science. This student had done her research, and as UVU was the only school in the state to offer a B.S. in Forensic Science, and they were one of the top programs in the country, this student obviously wanted to go to UVU.

On the tour, she confessed to me that her parents didn't want her to go to UVU because when they went to school, UVU (UVCC then) was seen as a tiny school that people who weren't smart enough to go to "real college" went to.

When I told her that I had a full-ride scholarship to every other college in Utah, but chose to go to UVU, she was shocked! UVU had changed and grown exponentially since her parents went to school.

While it can be useful to get information and opinions from people older than you, remember that things were very different when they went to college. Getting opinions from people who currently go to these schools will give you a much better idea of what going to school there will really be like.

3. Where are my friends going?

Personal story time: My husband, Rylee, was dead set on going to USU. Why? He had a group of tennis friends who were also going there, and they wanted to room with each other.

After Rylee and I returned home from religious missions, we knew we wanted to get married, but we also knew we couldn't be married and go to schools thee hours away from each other.

After much thought, Rylee decided to come to UVU with me, and he loves it! And guess what? Most of his friends transferred down to Utah County as well.

People transfer. People drop out. People get married and move out of state. People are unpredictable.

Basing your college decision on something so unpredictable can ruin your chances of going to your best school.

What You SHOULD Be Asking

1. What is the learning environment like?

We all learn differently. Some people are visual learners, auditory learners, and some people learn by getting their hands dirty. It would make sense then, that colleges would offer different learning environments.

Some colleges focus on textbooks and lectures, honing in on those students who learn from memorization.

Some colleges focus on hands-on learning, specializing in students who learn by doing.

Some colleges have class sizes of 200+, knowing that their students don't need one-on-one help.

Some colleges have class sizes of 20, encouraging more discussion and application.

It all depends on what YOU need.

2. How good is the program?

Let's be honest, we go to college to learn, yes, but also to get a good job. We need to make sure we will be learning the necessary skills and information to succeed in our career AFTER college.

Contact the program directors at each college and find out:

• The job placement rate

• The types of jobs people get after graduating from the program

• How competitive the program is

• The prerequisites to get into the program

• The qualifications of the professors

• Acceptance rate into grad school

If you have the chance to talk to a student who is either currently in the program, or recently graduated from the program, even better!

3. What will my financial situation look like?

Although it would be nice if college was free, it is actually a wonderful opportunity to learn how to budget your money and make smart financial decisions.

Most colleges have a page on their website talking about the Average Cost of Attendance (ACA). This takes into consideration your tuition, books, fees, rent, food, and other necessities. I have found that most of the ACAs are on the higher end, and if you are a good bargain shopper, can find cheap housing, and rent your books from chegg.com or amazon.com, you can live for significantly cheaper than the websites says.

Again, do your research. Look up their housing options; is there one off-campus with its own kitchen so you don't have to pay for an overpriced meal plan? See what resources the school offers; can you check out your textbooks from the library?

If there is a school that has a great program, and is going to cost you less in the long run, why not?

Go Forth, and Learn

Hopefully, this helped direct your thoughts when it comes to picking out a college. It is a big decision, one that will influence almost every aspect of your future. But also know that there is room for mistakes and growth.