How to Pick the Right College

Westside students, picking a college can be tough, but it doesn’t have to be. With these helpful tips and advice, a clear path to college is surely in your future!

Think about what you want to pursue. College is the first opportunity for you to actually learn what you like and pay money to do it nonetheless, so pick something that interests you that won’t be overwhelming.

Though you have 2 full years before an official major declaration has to be made once your in college, it’s better to start off taking courses that’ll fit whatever plan you pick. If you aren’t sure yet then think closer to home. Don’t go to a school because it seems fun or your friends are going there, this is your education after all.

1. Have your reach, match and safety schools lined up. Safety being a school you are confident of getting into, match being one where your grades are up to par, and a reach meaning a bit of a risk, but something you still want to go for.
2. Major. If you aren’t quite sure what you want to major in yet, that’s okay, just know a general area of interest and make sure the colleges your applying to fit that, so later on you aren’t stuck in college where you can’t study what you want.
3. Location. Be sure to pick a school considering out-of-state tuition. Family members may have negative connotations associated with you moving away, but remember it’s you who will be there for 4 years, not them, so don’t be afraid to go for it!
4. Speaking of out of state, make sure you have the appropriate requirements, such as ACT

Overall, be realistic motivated and practical. If you aren’t confident in your academic standings, it’s better to apply somewhere you know you can get in, that’s not to say you shouldn’t go for your ‘reach’ school, just keep yourself in check. When looking at colleges, it’s okay if you don’t get into all the ones you applied for, because if you go into college with the mindset that you got in everywhere you applied it won’t bode well with your attitude in the first semester of classes.