Deciding on a school can be one of the hardest and most life-changing decisions for a student. Students are leaving their high school lives behind and venturing into adulthood. 

Whether you are going to a two or four-year school, you are choosing what you want to do with the rest of your life.  How do you decide where to spend the next couple of years of your life and how do you make the right choice for yourself?

First, good news, you have some time! The national college deadline for committing is May 1, 2022. Don’t rush in making any decisions yet, take the time to pick your place. According to the website Best Colleges, there are a couple of factors to consider before choosing a college. 

The first factor to consider is the location of the school. Do you want to stay in-state or go out of state? 

The benefits of going in-state are that it’s more affordable than in-state tuition. The average difference in cost between in-state and out-of-state tuition is $8,990 according to the website,  GW heath. 

Another benefit of going to an in-state school is that you are close to home. According to the website Hap.org, 70% of college freshmen experience some form of homesickness in their first year of college. If you think being closer to home will benefit you then consider staying in the state you are in, but there are also benefits to out-of-state schools as well. 

One of the biggest benefits of an out-of-state college is opportunity and experience. Different colleges in specific states may cater to your major or the field you are interested in. For example, if your goal is to become a politician or work in the house of representatives or senate going to school in Washington, D.C can provide you with internships or job opportunities in congress. 

If you want to go out of state, it is beneficial to know what opportunities are present and how you can be successful there. Going to college, especially out of state, requires research in order to set you up for success, as Ferguson learned in picking an undergraduate school. 

The next factor to consider is whether the college is in a small or large city. Do you like the feel of a quaint small college town or the raving big city? 

The advantage of going to school in a rural area is the tight-knit and close community.  Small college towns offer a sense of community where you can develop strong relationships with professors and your peers.

 In a smaller community, there’s a sense of belonging that at times a larger community can’t offer.  Otterbein graduate and math teacher Andrea Gaul said, “I just felt a strong sense of community there, especially with the people in my major.  They were my family. I was able to have a good relationship with professors. It felt like one big family.”

The advantage of going to college in an urban area is that there is a great variety of social activities with a large open and diverse community. A larger community can offer more internship opportunities and can be rich in cultural diversity.

For example, going to college at a school in New York, such as Columbia University will offer a different experience than Miami University in Ohio. In New York, you see the hustle and bustle of the big apple. Students come from all over the nation majoring in fashion, business, entertainment, and medicine. While Miami University may provide the same majors, the overall picture of the big apple culture is much more extensive in a big well-known city. 

Another factor to consider is the size of the school, is it large or small? Would you prefer to go to a school that is the same size as your high school or one where you’re in a lecture hall of 100 or more students? 

According to Best Colleges, smaller colleges tend to offer more specialized degrees and have dedicated one on one student support. In a smaller classroom, it’s much more personalized where you can ask questions and go to office hours with your professor. 

Larger classrooms provide more diverse coursework and offer advanced research facilities and libraries. According to Best Colleges, due to extensive funding, larger schools can offer well-stocked and modernized facilities to students. While larger classrooms may not offer one on one time, there are resources available provided by the school. 

One other factor that can be considered substantial in a student’s decision is cost. According to the website HuffPost, 46% of the sample surveyed stated that cost was a deciding factor while 49% said that financial aid was the most important to consider. 

Westerville South senior, Maggie Price has committed to West Virginia University, and when asked about her decision she responded, “So I had to weigh a lot with money, you have to pick a school that you love no matter what.  WVU is a little more expensive, but you don’t want to feel obligated to go to school based on how much they give you.”

Cost is very specific to every single person which includes scholarships, financial aid, and grants. You may not know the true cost of a school until much closer to the commitment deadline. 

For Westerville South IB Candidate, senior Elise Bennett’s cost has dwindled her decision to two schools. Bennett’s dream school is ivy league Columbia University; but when asked further about her decision between the schools, she said, “I would say my choice is between OU and OSU based on the price of Colombia.” 

It seems almost impossible, but you can avoid taking out loans and a lot less for college for the same degree. How do you do this? The answer is Columbus State Community College. 

School Counselor and Ashland University Graduate, Justin Ferguson said, “This is my honest opinion, don’t be afraid to go to Columbus State. Go there for the first two years and transfer your credits. The transferability of Columbus State’s credit is extensive and they offer the same accreditations as schools like OU, OSU, Kent State, and BGSU.” 

Some people with a completed FAFSA can even go to Columbus State for free. Going to community college for two years and transferring the credit to a university of your choice can close the financial gap. You are getting the same degree by the end of four years, a lot cheaper.

“It’s an option that will save you thousands of dollars”, said Ferguson. 

Finally, another substantial factor to weigh is the campus environment. According to the website Best Colleges, because personal and professional growth also occurs outside the classroom, it’s important to examine the campus environment when choosing a college. 

When asked about what was most important in choosing a college Bennet responded, “I would say the biggest thing would be the energy on the campus and how it felt, even if a school had everything academically if it didn’t feel right, I wouldn’t go there. The people are everything; it is all about the environment.”

The best way to get a feel for a campus environment is by visiting in person. 

“Visit the colleges you can 1000%. Virtual visits don’t give the same effect because they’re never going to show you the campus on a rainy day. You need to meet real people,” Ferguson said. 

Ferguson didn’t do much research on deciding to go to Ashland University, but what sealed the deal for him was seeing how nice everyone was, like opening the door, looking you in the face, and being genuine people. 

Knowing that you’ve chosen the right school doesn’t have to be this dramatic epiphany, but you know what fits you best with the slightest feeling. 

The decision doesn’t have to be perfect because the experience is what you make it. 

No decision is going to be perfect, and there is not just one pathway to get where you want to be. 

Choosing a college doesn’t have to be a scary process. Consider the factors, see what fits your needs best, and make sure you go to the school for you. 

If you don’t have a decision by May 1, 2022, that’s fine, take a step back and assess what is best for you. You have the tools to make your choice.

“Go with your gut,” said Ferguson.