How to Choose a College?I. Student-faculty ratio —

How to Choose a College?
    Good morning, everyone. Today, we are going to talk about a very important topic, especially to all of you: how to choose a college. Of course, a college can be judged by many parameters. Today, I am going to focus on a few key factors, because I think this would help you have a clearer picture.
    First of all, the student/faculty ratio is an important figure to consider when looking at colleges, but it is also a piece of data that is easy to misinterpret. The California Institute of Technology, for example, has a 3 to 1 student/faculty ratio. This does not mean, however, that students can expect an average class size of 3. It also doesn’t mean that your professors will be more interested in undergraduates than graduate students. Most of the country’s most prestigious colleges and universities have low student/faculty ratios.  The lower the ratio, the more likely it is that your professors will be able to give you personal attention. When you find a ratio over 20/1, you’ll often discover that classes are big, the faculty are overworked, and your opportunities for one-on-one interaction with your professors are greatly diminished. I consider a healthy ratio to be 15 to 1 or lower, although some universities deliver excellent instruction with a higher ratio.
    Secondly, financial aids. It doesn’t matter how great a college is if you can’t pay for it. You won’t know exactly what a school will cost until you receive your financial aid package. However, when you’re researching colleges you can easily find out what percentage of students receive grant aid as well as what the average amount of grant aid is. Look at both public and private colleges as you compare grant aid.  Private colleges with healthy endowments are much more able to offer significant grant aid than the majority of public universities. Once grant aid is factored in, the price difference between publics and privates shrinks considerably. You should also look at the average amount of loans the students take out to pay for college. Keep in mind that loans can burden you for over a decade after you graduate. While loans may help you pay your tuition bill, they can make it harder for you to pay a mortgage after you graduate. The financial aid officers at a college should be working to meet you at a reasonable financial midway point—you should make some sacrifices to pay for your education, but the college should help out considerably as well, assuming you qualify for aid. As you shop around for the ideal college, look for schools where the average grant aid is more than the average amount loan aid. For private colleges, the grant aid should be considerably more than loan amounts. At public colleges, the numbers might be similar.
    Thirdly, internship and research opportunities. When senior year of college rolls around and you start applying for jobs, nothing helps more than having some hands-on, practical experiences listed on your resume. As you choose the colleges to which you’ll apply, look for schools that have robust programs for experiential learning. Does the college support students to assist professors with their research? Does the college have funds to support independent undergraduate research? Has the college fostered relationships with companies and organizations to help students get meaningful summer internships? Does the college have a strong alumni network to help students get summer work in their fields of study?  Realize that internships and research opportunities should not be limited to engineering and the sciences. Faculty in the humanities and arts are also likely to need research or studio assistants, so it’s worth asking the admissions officers about experiential learning opportunities no matter what major you are likely to pursue.
     Fourthly, engaging curriculum. Laura Reyome’s drawing of a zombie class may seem far-fetched, but in truth you’ll find professors teaching about zombies at the University of Baltimore, University of Alabama Birmingham, Alfred University and many other campuses. When approached seriously, zombies tell us a lot about contemporary culture, and their representations in film and fiction have roots in antiquity and slavery. A college curriculum, however, doesn’t need to be trendy or gimmicky to be engaging. As you look at colleges, be sure to spend time exploring the course catalogue. Are there courses offered that get you excited? Do the core courses make sense? —That is, does the college present a clear rationale for its general education program?  Does the college have a strong first-year curriculum to help you make the transition to college-level coursework? Does the curriculum leave room for taking elective courses? If you have a potential major in mind, look at the requirements for the major. Do the courses actually cover the subject areas that you want to study? You don’t want to go to a college for accounting only to discover that the school specializes almost entirely in marketing.
    Finally, clubs and activities. Most colleges flaunt the number of student groups and activities they offer. The number, however, isn’t nearly as important as the nature of those activities. Before choosing a college, make sure the school has your extracurricular interests covered. If your favourite activity is equestrian, look at colleges that have their own fields and stables. If you love playing football but aren’t quite NFL material, you might want to look at colleges that compete at the Division III level. If debate is your thing, make sure the colleges you consider actually have a debate team. Nearly all four-year residential colleges have wide-ranging options for clubs and activities, but different campuses do have very different personalities. You’ll find schools that place a lot of emphasis on the performing arts, outdoor activities, intramural sports, volunteerism, or Greek life. Find schools that complement your interests. While the curriculum may be the most important feature of a college, you’ll be miserable if you don’t have a stimulating life outside of academics.
    OK. I have outlined five factors of choosing your desired college. Actually, there are more to be considered, but I think we should focus on a few prioritized aspects. This will help you make the decision easily, rather than over-analyzing trivial details.