4 answers
Elise
Student
Temple City, California
1
Question
Asked
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When committing to a school, what were the most important factors for you ?
I am a senior in high school and I am preparing to choose a school soon; I think I know where I want to go but I'm not 100% sure.
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4 answers
Jason Won
Consultant
4
Answers
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Updated
Jason’s Answer
I think there were two main factors that I would reconsider if I was going back to school.
1. What is the school good at / known for? Certain schools are more specialized / offer more opportunity for certain majors / fields. Not only from an academic lens, but also look at the social aspect of college as well. This is definitely important for how your next four years will look and even beyond that once you join the workforce.
2. The second one is not as commonly talked about but the major city closest to your college is a really important aspect of where you choose to go. If you know you want to stay around one area, going to a great school close to that area is really beneficial as companies / people know about the caliber of student that comes out of these schools and you are more likely to be in that area after graduation. E.g. Since I went to school in NW Indiana, (Chicago 1.5 hr away), most of my peers have moved to Chicago post-graduation and work there :)
1. What is the school good at / known for? Certain schools are more specialized / offer more opportunity for certain majors / fields. Not only from an academic lens, but also look at the social aspect of college as well. This is definitely important for how your next four years will look and even beyond that once you join the workforce.
2. The second one is not as commonly talked about but the major city closest to your college is a really important aspect of where you choose to go. If you know you want to stay around one area, going to a great school close to that area is really beneficial as companies / people know about the caliber of student that comes out of these schools and you are more likely to be in that area after graduation. E.g. Since I went to school in NW Indiana, (Chicago 1.5 hr away), most of my peers have moved to Chicago post-graduation and work there :)
Gloria Ortiz
Instructional Designer
862
Answers
Irving, Texas
Updated
Gloria’s Answer
Hi Elise,
The right answer to your question is going to depend on you.
Outside of learning, what do you want from the college experience? When I went to college for the first time, I wanted to move away from home. That was my number one factor after getting the right degree. So wanted to go to an out of state school. I did not really consider the challenges of going away from school. I am an introvert so I did not make new friends easily. I was homesick. School out of state was expensive. And I did not consider that my major - journalism - was a very competitive program and I am not very competitive. I did not graduate from that first school because there was so much stress from all that happened to me.
Ultimately, I did not find a good college program until after I had been working in business for a few years. Then I went to the school with the best opportunity to reach my career goals.
The right answer to your question is going to depend on you.
Outside of learning, what do you want from the college experience? When I went to college for the first time, I wanted to move away from home. That was my number one factor after getting the right degree. So wanted to go to an out of state school. I did not really consider the challenges of going away from school. I am an introvert so I did not make new friends easily. I was homesick. School out of state was expensive. And I did not consider that my major - journalism - was a very competitive program and I am not very competitive. I did not graduate from that first school because there was so much stress from all that happened to me.
Ultimately, I did not find a good college program until after I had been working in business for a few years. Then I went to the school with the best opportunity to reach my career goals.
Veeraj Patel
Software Engineer
5
Answers
Jacksonville, Florida
Updated
Veeraj’s Answer
Hey congrats on being so close to this big decision! It's totally normal to not be 100% sure yet. Here are some factors that really matter when picking a school.
1) Money matters more than you think. Seriously, look at the financial aid packages carefully. Student loan debt can follow you for years. A cheaper school where you graduate debt-free can be a way better move than a "dream school" that leaves you owing $80k.
2) Location and environment. Do you want to be in a big city or a small college town? Close to home or far away? This stuff affects your daily life way more than people realize. Visit the campus if you can — sometimes you just get a gut feeling.
3) Does the school actually have a strong program in what you want to study? A school might have a great reputation overall but be average in your specific major. Look into that.
4) Job outcomes. Check where graduates end up working. Do companies recruit from that campus? Does the school have good internship connections? This is especially important if you already have a career direction in mind.
5) Campus culture and size. Some people thrive at big state schools with 40,000 students. Others do way better at smaller schools where professors know your name. Think about what kind of learner you are.
Finally, trust your gut but also be practical. It's okay to love a school AND make sure it makes financial sense. Those two things don't have to be in conflict. You don't need to have everything figured out right now. Most students change their minds about things once they get to campus and that's perfectly fine. Just pick the place where you feel like you can grow and that won't crush you financially.
Good luck with your decision! 🎓
1) Money matters more than you think. Seriously, look at the financial aid packages carefully. Student loan debt can follow you for years. A cheaper school where you graduate debt-free can be a way better move than a "dream school" that leaves you owing $80k.
2) Location and environment. Do you want to be in a big city or a small college town? Close to home or far away? This stuff affects your daily life way more than people realize. Visit the campus if you can — sometimes you just get a gut feeling.
3) Does the school actually have a strong program in what you want to study? A school might have a great reputation overall but be average in your specific major. Look into that.
4) Job outcomes. Check where graduates end up working. Do companies recruit from that campus? Does the school have good internship connections? This is especially important if you already have a career direction in mind.
5) Campus culture and size. Some people thrive at big state schools with 40,000 students. Others do way better at smaller schools where professors know your name. Think about what kind of learner you are.
Finally, trust your gut but also be practical. It's okay to love a school AND make sure it makes financial sense. Those two things don't have to be in conflict. You don't need to have everything figured out right now. Most students change their minds about things once they get to campus and that's perfectly fine. Just pick the place where you feel like you can grow and that won't crush you financially.
Good luck with your decision! 🎓
Irina C
Audit; contracts overview
3
Answers
Bucharest, Romania
Updated
Irina’s Answer
You’ve already taken the first—and most important—step: you have a general sense of where you want to go and what you want to study. That’s a big deal, especially since very few things in life feel 100% certain.
First, take care of the practical side. Make sure you clearly understand the application deadlines and what is required from you. Having a clear timetable and a few reminders on your phone can make the process feel much more manageable.
I tried to align my interests with how I imagined myself in the next few years, and I asked myself an important question: would this school help me build a career and bring me fulfillment? For some people, fulfillment means joy; for others, it might mean stability, financial security, or social success—and all of these priorities are valid.
When it came to choosing a school, I also relied on perspective from people I trusted. I asked a few close individuals whether they could see me studying and working in that field. Their outside view helped me reflect more honestly on my strengths and interests.
Take time to reflect on what you want and who you want to become. Don’t hesitate to ask for support from trusted people such as parents, teachers, or older friends. Their perspective can help you form a clearer and more complete vision of yourself.
I wish you the best of luck with your choice.
First, take care of the practical side. Make sure you clearly understand the application deadlines and what is required from you. Having a clear timetable and a few reminders on your phone can make the process feel much more manageable.
I tried to align my interests with how I imagined myself in the next few years, and I asked myself an important question: would this school help me build a career and bring me fulfillment? For some people, fulfillment means joy; for others, it might mean stability, financial security, or social success—and all of these priorities are valid.
When it came to choosing a school, I also relied on perspective from people I trusted. I asked a few close individuals whether they could see me studying and working in that field. Their outside view helped me reflect more honestly on my strengths and interests.
Take time to reflect on what you want and who you want to become. Don’t hesitate to ask for support from trusted people such as parents, teachers, or older friends. Their perspective can help you form a clearer and more complete vision of yourself.
I wish you the best of luck with your choice.