Picking the Right College for You, Part 2
In Picking the Right College for You, Part 1, we were discussing the types of colleges and universities out there. There’s quite a lot to choose from, so the best thing you can do is find the right type of education and setting that fits you and proceed from there. We already covered liberal arts colleges, the Ivy League, residential colleges, honors programs and research schools. Now let’s focus on some other types of schools.
Flagship Universities – A flagship university is the main campus of a state university system. Flagships are comprehensive universities and usually include graduate or professional schools in addition to undergraduate colleges. Flagship universities have competitive admissions and are often listed among the best universities in the country. They include ‘public Ivies’ such as the University of California at Berkeley, the University of Virginia, the University of Illinois – Urbana-Champaign, the University of Wisconsin – Madison, and Pennsylvania State University.
Pluses: Excellent academics. Entrée to top graduate programs. Lively social and sports scenes. A wide range of class choices. Relatively low tuition for state residents.
Minuses: Huge campuses and vast student populations can be easy to get lost in. Main campuses may be located in isolated rural areas. Undergraduates are likely to have more contact with teaching assistants than with faculty. Classes may involve several hundred students and provide little opportunity for discussion or feedback.
Land-Grant Universities – These are large public universities that were originally built on federal land in exchange for a commitment to educate the public. The primary mission of these universities continues to be public education. Undergraduate programs will often be balanced by active graduate, continuing education, outreach, and professional programs.
Pluses: Less competitive admissions and relatively low tuition for state residents.
Minuses: Large campuses and classes. Quality of programs and departments varies.
Music Conservatories and Art Schools – These are specialized academies that train students in the visual and performing arts. Some schools (especially those affiliated with a university or a college consortium) provide the option of a broader liberal arts education in addition to arts training. Others focus exclusively on developing their students’ artistic talents. Most of these schools require an audition or portfolio as part of the admissions process. Top schools include the Julliard School, the Eastman School of Music, the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, the Rhode Island School of Design, the Pratt Institute, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and the Yale Art School.
Pluses: Outstanding training. Prestige. Specialized career placement and networking opportunities.
Minuses: Highly competitive admissions. Training and/or academic credit may be hard to transfer to other schools or fields.
Community Colleges and Junior Colleges – These are two-year institutions that offer Associate of Arts (A.A.) degrees. Most are non-residential ‘commuter’ schools. Community colleges typically practice open admissions, meaning that
anyone who meets their minimum standards is guaranteed enrollment. Many offer smaller classes and a more supportive learning environment than large four-year institutions do. A growing number of college-bound high school graduates opt to save money by completing two years of degree study at a community college and then transferring to a four-year institution for their junior and senior years.
Pluses: Low-stress admissions. Inexpensive. Teaching and academic support can be very good.
Minuses: Class options, library and lab resources may be limited. Transfers to 4-year institutions may become more difficult as more people choose this option. May not be able to transfer all degree credits to a 4-year institution. Social life and extracurricular activities may be limited.
Online Degrees: Or, if you need flexibility or to learn from a distance, you might want to try an online degree program. An increasing number of programs are now available, so they are definitely worth looking into.
Pluses: Flexibility. Flexibility. Flexibility. Also, they can actually provide more class participation opportunities for those less comfortable participating in traditional classes.
Minuses: Online degree students must be very self-motivated and although the programs have more human interaction than you think, online programs cannot replace the human relationships of the college experience.
Try reading this post about how to choose an online program.
If you’re unsure about where you want to go, check out the myUsearch college matching process. After answering their questions, myUsearch will give you a list of schools that match your needs. Or, if or you’re looking for some solid advice on choosing a school, give our office a call at 703.242.5885 or drop us an email. Our consultants have years of admissions experience and have helped thousands of students just like you find the best university or program that fit them.
Article adapted from AdmissionsConsultants.com.
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