Comfort vs. Academics

powercropper
Mon, 08 Sep 2014 12:20:20 +0000

You don’t have to make a final decision now, just the decision of where to apply. Sounds like you have a good start with the two places you mentioned. You might try to find one or two more schools to apply to that have some kind of academics that might suit you.

Revisiting colleges later in the process, staying overnight, attending classes, meeting professors, looking over the final academic/financial aid awards, these future things will help you make your final decision. Networking to find a student or two at each place that can sit with you and give you honest feedback about the reality of daily life on campus can be influential on your decision also. Beware of all the “friendly” staff that are paid to be nice to you when you visit. You want to get past that initial “airbrushed” campus and check out the reality. Read campus newspapers, look at bulletin boards to see what is posted, eat in off campus restaurants and ask waitress and staff what they think about the XYZ college.

My daughter chose to attend a “big fish in little pond” school that gave her more merit aid for her stats and record. It has given her opportunities within her major to get her hands dirty working in labs from her very first semester on campus. She is doing actual research work as a sophomore. And she’s on track to get the highest level student employee position in her major her senior year. Much harder to find these opportunities on a huge campus.

If you can make connections and find adults working in the kind of job you envision for your future, they can give great advice on the best type of education and experience you will need to be successful in that job market.

You can make yourself successful on any campus, and the huge campus may have better facilities, better networking for internships, co ops, etc. Life is what you make of it.

Best of luck to you!